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 WELCOME

Help me make up my mind,

prove you’re worth my time
Reviews you
can trust You’d think, with millions – literally millions – of
songs available at our convenience for just a
Experience tenner a month, choosing a music streaming
& heritage service would be simple. Wouldn’t you?
We’ve been hard at
work helping the
Well no, not really. We’re all empowered and
world discover the
best in hi-f and
entitled consumers these days, and we know
home cinema for
more than 37 years,
there’s a bit more to it than that. We need to fret
and have getting on
for 100 years of reviewing experience under our collective
about Apple, Android and BlackBerry support.
belts – so you can count on our expert opinions. We need to worry about file sizes, about bit-
Dedicated test rates, smartphone and/or tablet compatibility,
facilities app ergonomics. We need to agonise about
We test every
product in the
sound quality. Or at least we did. But now,
magazine or at
whathif.com
thanks to the comprehensive investigation
against its peers
in our bespoke £1m
into every music-streaming service that
reviewing facilities.
And we test every product as a team, so our opinions
matters (p46) all the information you need to
and conclusions are always the result of collaboration. make an informed decision is right
We spot big here. And on top of all that, it’s a
trends first great read too. You’re welcome.
MP3 player tests before the iPod even
existed? High-def video before it even
had a name? That was us. We keep you in
touch with big stories and future trends.
Simon Lucas, Editor
Worldwide
readership My products of the month
With seven international editions in
Africa, Asia and Europe, we reach over Qobuz Sony VPL-HW55ES
Group Test p53 Group Test p71
1.6 million readers every month.
Yes it’s expensive. And yes A good projector is at the heart of
the catalogue is small. But the the home cinema experience, and this
sound is FLAC-tastic is a Good Projector.

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 >04>14

Contents
Insider 4K Televisions p22
We assess whether 2014 will offer
struggling TV makers some respite
as 4K TV gets set to take centre stage.

Our products Supertest

of the month Stereo speakers
“Whether you’re looking
Marantz PM6005
First test p15
for your frst pair of speakers
“A superb sounding budget or perhaps a second pair…
amp that’s bound to
rumble its rivals” look no further”
Becky Roberts Staf writer

B&W 685
First test p6
“B&W’s new 600 series
is of to a fyer – the 685s
are sensational speakers
bursting with excitement
and detail”
Andy Madden Reviews editor

Pro-ject Elemental
First test p12
“A cleverly designed, back-
to-basics turntable that
sounds great”
Ketan Bharadia Technical editor
What’s in this issue…
Philips Fidelio X1 06 First tests We get physical with the LG G Flex
Group test p63
“These incredibly
smartphone, revel in the quality offered bythe entry-
powerful and richly detailed level Pro-ject Elemental turntable and are seduced by
headphones sound and
feel utterly gorgeous”
Bowers and Wilkins’ outstanding 685 speakers.
Kashfa Kabir Multimedia journalist

28 Supertest: Stereo speakers On the lookout for

LG G Flex
First test p16
“A lot of what we loved
about the G2 in a design
that’ll turn heads”
Verity Burns Multimedia editor
Sony NWZ-ZX1 Walkman
Group test p45
“Despite tough competition,
this is one of the best-
sounding portables
we’ve heard”
Ced Yuen Staf writer
a pair of good-quality bookshelf speakers? These sub-
£200 efforts from Cambridge Audio, Dali, Pioneer,
Q Acoustics, Roth, Tannoy and Yamaha will bring
a smile to your face and sweet relief to your wallet.
First tests 42 Hi-res audio players Are we on the verge of a
B&W 685
change in our listening habits? Sony and Astell &
“They’re the speakers
we’d put on to get our Kern seem to think so as we go in-depth on both
friends into hi-f” companies’ new premium portable offerings.
46 Music streaming High-resolution may be
making a push but streaming is showing it is here
to stay. We review the best services on offer as the
streaming revolution continues at a pace.

4 www.whathif.com
 Subscriptions p84 Group test Headphones
Get a free pair of AKG K451 headphones “We’re still stunned by
And save loads of money on the just how powerful these
normal cover price while you’re at it headphones sound”

Group test
Projectors
“Nothing can give
you a cinematic
experience like a
good projector”

Hi-res audio players

62 Headphones Don’t care if the whole world can New Buyer’s Guide…
hear your music? You’re in luck as we review five
two mags in one!
massively leaky cans ranging from £100 to £200.
Revamped hi-f guide!
64 Projectors A serious home cinema set-up needs 1500 products rated p87
With new categories and key tech
a projector to match. We get to grips with four
specs, we’ve made it even easier for
projectors around £3k for the best cinema experience. you to pick the best kit for your cash

Find out…
74 Temptations Featuring a lovingly crafted System killers: Blu-rays p96
turntable from the folks over at ClearAudio as well as Tips for going digital p118
Sony’s expensive but spectacular 4K projector. High-res audio: an introduction p139

Temptation
80 Playlist We get lost in space with Gravity, review “This is a cleverly
the latest instalment of Marvel’s cinematic plan in designed turntable
Thor: The Dark World, and renew hostilities with the packed with
intelligent
infected in The Last of Us prequel Left Behind. solutions”
Our ratings explained
We always test products as a One of the best ★★★★★
team, in dedicated facilities, A serious contender ★★★★
and always compare them
Worth a look ★★★
with their peers. That’s why
our ratings are the most Disappointing ★★ If it’s one of our winners,
For a full list of specifcations and other
authoritative in the industry. Awful ★ you know it’s top quality
useful info, visit whathif.com

www.whathif.com 5
 Exclusive reviews of the latest kit
FIRST TESTS
MORE
fiRst tEsts EXCLUSIVE
New 685s are a real
triumph for B&W
Korg DS DAC 100
£400 Page 13
A famous musical
name brings out a DAC
B&W 685 S2 | Stereo speakers | £500
It’s taken seven years, but the new
LG G Flex generation of B&W’s 685 speakers is
£590 Page 16 finally here. And they sound impressive.
LG’s new curvy phone The previous 685s have been long-
is put to the test standing favourites in our offices, with a
rollercoaster history that saw them win
Awards and then, recently, drop down to
four stars in light of newer competition.
But B&W has rallied back with a new
Marantz PM6005 600 series that incorporates existing
£350 Page 15 technologies taken from its high-end
A winning amplifer speakers, hoping to reclaim that fifth star
from Marantz with the 685 S2s.
A tweeter from further up the range
Want more? So what’s changed? The headline act is the
Visit whathif.com
for even more decoupled reinforced dome tweeter. The
product reviews!
25mm aluminium dome in the 685 S2 is
reinforced with a thicker metal ring to make
the tweeter stronger and better damped –
a technology handed down from B&W’s
flagship CM10 floorstanding speakers –
to ensure a higher degree of clarity and
accuracy in the upper ranges.
The tweeter assembly is suspended
in a ring of soft gel, keeping it isolated
from any cabinet vibrations brought
about by the mid/bass driver. This new 600
series marks the first time that B&W has
used such mechanical decoupling for a
tweeter in a cabinet loudspeaker.
Elsewhere, the 16.5cm mid/bass driver
remains mostly the same. The bullet-
shaped phase-plug of the previous
generation is replaced with a mushroom-
shaped ‘dust cap’ derived from the
high-end B&W PM1 speakers, which
further damps the driver down at certain
frequencies. The new shape and foam
material also lessens unwanted resonance
and aims for a smoother driver response in
the upper frequencies.
They’re hugely entertaining and their sheer power, punchy
dynamics and excellent detail retrieval will make you want
to listen to your entire music collection from the start.
They’re the speakers we’d put on to get our friends into hi-f
6 www.whathif.com
The sturdy, square-edged cabinet is
slightly slimmer and taller than before (it’s
now 34.5cm tall and 19cm wide), but there’s
no mistaking that these are B&W 600 series
speakers. Pop the speaker grilles off and the
685s remain interesting lookers, thanks to
an uncluttered fascia and the distinctive
bright yellow Kevlar mid/bass driver.
The old asymmetrical design is out, and
we can all breathe a sigh of relief as B&W
has finally covered up the fragile dome
tweeter with a protective grille mesh
(which helps with dispersion, too). The
easily dented tweeter is no longer in danger
of being accidentally prodded and poked.
While the speakers are well built, we
can’t help but wish for a more premium-
quality finish. The 685s do look and feel
rather plain, especially considering the
price jump (up from the £380 of the model
they replace). They’re now also only
available in two finishes: white and black
ash. Gone are the wood finishes, which
reportedly weren’t very popular.
Stunning sound
But enough of that – how do the speakers
actually sound? In one word, brilliant. Right
from the start, these B&W 685s burst into
life with a powerful, clear and agile sound.
These are hugely talented and enjoyable
speakers, and a definite step up from
their predecessors.
The sense of scale is massive, especially
coming from relatively compact
standmounters. The soundstage is wide
and deep, enveloping you in a richly
detailed, subtly dynamic and cohesive
performance, whether you’re playing
Aerosmith, Lorde or a Hans Zimmer track.
The deep and taut bass is particularly
impressive. Play Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta
 This deck is about as plug-
and-play a record player as
we’ve come across
Pro-Ject Elemental, p12

For a full list of specifcations and

other useful info visit whathif.com >

www.whathif.com 7
FIRST TESTS stereo speakers

In detail… 4 SYSTEM BUILDER

Three partners that will help make sure you hear
2 3 the B&Ws at their best
3

The new tweeter
1 This tweeter grille serves
1 two purposes: it protects
the fragile metal dome, of
course, but it also helps
sound dispersion to make
the 685s a little less fussy
about positioning.
2 This compliant ring isolates
the tweeter assembly from
the vibrations caused by the
mid/bass driver. The result?
Clearer, more detailed highs.
cD player
Audiolab 8200CD £730 ★★★★★
3 The metal dome and A long-standing favourite for its detail and
reinforcing ring arrangement neutrality, this CD player also delivers a
adds rigidity while improving beautifully fuid and dynamic sound.
damping. It’s technology
taken from B&W’s upmarket
CM range – and it really works.
4 Bowers & Wilkins’ stereo amplifier
traditional tapered tube Arcam FMJ A19 £650 ★★★★★
The Arcam is a terrifcally composed, agile and
is mounted behind the
insightful amplifer with a huge sense of scale –
tweeter diaphragm. It ideal for driving the powerful 685s.
absorbs the rearward-fring
sound, and helps to give a
purer sound.

Love and the bass notes are so rich and
powerful that it almost feels like there’s a
subwoofer in the room.
All the technology tweaks seem to have
paid off as well, as the 685s sound
remarkably clean and precise. The piano
notes in Amanda Palmer’s The Bed Song
sound sweet and delicate, while her breathy
vocals are full of texture and emotion.
Switch to Radiohead and the stop and start
of notes are definite, rhythm changes are
handled with confidence, and each
instrument is conveyed with a great deal of
finesse and insight.
Have fun turning up the volume
They can also go extremely loud with little
obvious distortion – we rarely have this
much fun listening to music so loudly in
our listening rooms. Crank up the volume
when playing A Perfect Circle’s beautifully
recorded Thirteenth Step and the 685s
charge along with excitement and punch.
That slight discrepancy in character
between the tweeter and midrange that we
pointed out in the older 685 speakers can
still be heard, but to a far lesser degree than
before. While the 685s don’t make too
much of a fuss with hard or bright
recordings, give them a pristinely recorded
album and they truly shine.
Also consider It’s also worth taking care with
Acoustic positioning and partnering equipment. As
Energy 301 always, the 685s sound happiest when
£400 ★★★★★ given plenty of space (don’t shove them up
They may not be as against the wall), and slightly toed in
large-scale and towards the listening position. stands
powerful, but this While our reference Roksan Caspian M2 Custom Design FS104 Signature £200
talented pair has separates sounded fantastic with the 685s, ★★★★★
Set the B&Ws on these elegant and sturdy
excellent timing, they’re a couple of rungs up the budget
Award-winning stands for greater control,
detail and ladder for these £500 speakers. Pair them punch and clarity.
consistency across instead with the long-standing favourite
the frequencies. Audiolab 8200CD (£730) and the well-
Total build £2080
mannered and revealing Arcam FMJ A19
(£650) integrated amplifier, and you’ve got
one hell of a hi-fi system.
Tech specs
They’ve done the job – and more Type Standmount • Sensitivity (dB/W/m)
Was it worth the wait? Oh, absolutely. 87 • Impedance 8 ohms •
B&W’s improvements – no matter how Max Power Handling 100W • Biwirable Yes
small – have ensured that the 685s are • Dimensions (hwd) 34.5 x 19 x 32cm •
firmly back in the competition when it Weight 7kg
comes to mid-priced hi-fi standmounters.
They’re hugely entertaining, and
their sheer power, punchy dynamics
and excellent detail retrieval will make
Rating ★★★★★
you want to listen to your entire music FOR Huge scale; excellent dynamics; clear,
collection from the start. They’re the precise and agile; rich bass; detail and insight;
speakers we’d put on to get our friends AGAINST Finish looks and feels quite plain
into hi-fi, and we can’t think of a better VERDICT A superb pair of speakers that are
reason to recommend the new B&W 685s. hugely thrilling – an update worth waiting for
They’re superb.

REVIEWER’S NOTES... 5 THINGS ABOUT THE B&W 685 S2

Taking the speakers
1 out of the box, we’re
surprised to see just how
plain they look. There are far
classier-looking speakers
out there, and we want a
better fnish than the basic
quality of the 685s.
But then we notice
2 that protective grille
covering the tweeter – and
about time too, B&W. No
longer is that fragile metal
dome tweeter in danger of
being dented by prodding
child-fngers. Hooray!
Once they’re on some
3 decent stands, we play
some tunes. Wow. The 685s
are immediately impressive
– punchy, agile and detailed.
They sound superb from the
start, but we’d still give them
a couple of days’ running in.
While we’re bopping
4 along to our favourite
tunes being dealt out with
confdence and power, we
play with positioning. Given
space and toed in slightly,
the 685s sound open,
dynamic and huge-scaled.
We turn the volume
5 up. And then we turn
it up even more. These
speakers can go seriously
loud without distorting, and
we spend one very happy
afternoon listening to Led
Zeppelin really, really loudly.

8 www.whathif.com
FIRST TESTS stereo amplifier
The beautiful fnish
and classy remote are
fully in keeping with a
£2000 piece of hi-f
Sony TA-A1ES | Stereo amplifier | £2000
New amp proves Sony is serious about hi-fi again
It’s been years since we reviewed a new
stereo amplifier from Sony, so it was with
more than the usual amount of interest that
we unboxed the TA-A1ES.
This integrated amp is the natural
partner to Sony’s new high-end music
server, the HAP-Z1ES (see our February
issue), and suggests the brand is once again
treating quality hi-fi seriously.
Our first impressions are entirely
positive. This is a large, chunky product
that feels precision engineered. The
controls – the few that there are – are lovely
to use, and the minimalist feature count
hints that the engineers focused on
performance first and foremost.
The TA-A1ES is a line-level-only unit. It
has five inputs – one of which is balanced
XLR - each accessible through a dedicated
button on the front panel. There aren’t any
record player or preamp connections.
When it comes to outputs there’s a set of
the chunkiest speaker terminals we’ve seen
this side of true high-end amplification, and
a front-panel-mounted headphone socket.
Just as much a headphone amplifier
Sony has included an impedance
adjustment control for optimising
headphone matching, which indicates
there’s been more thought put into this area
than is normal. Indeed, take off the top and
you’ll find a dedicated headphone amplifier
circuit rather than the usual feed direct
from the main power amplifier section. This
bodes well for headphone listening.
We like the slim remote handset. It feels
a touch insubstantial but is simply laid out
and easy to use.
Sony has paid a great deal of attention in
getting the basics right with this amp. It starts
with solid casework and a generous power
supply, and extends to the development of
new input buffers to isolate the preamp
section from external source influence.
The engineers have also developed new,
simplified power amplifier circuitry and a
10 www.whathif.com
warm when pushed hard, so make sure it
In detail has enough ventilation around it when
placed in an equipment support.
1 Binding posts systems this amplifer will be used
This Sony is happy to step up a gear with
The unusually massive speaker in, but it would have been nice to
terminals at the back of the have a quality phonostage as well. Eminem’s rapid-fire delivery on Rap God,
Sony TA-A1ES are some of rendering the angry rapper’s vocal with real
the chunkiest we’ve seen. They 3 Fine build quality clarity and fluidity. There’s plenty of agility,
will accept all the usual Sony has made a truly beautifully and a deep extending low-frequency reach
connections without issue. constructed product here. Few that can’t help but impress.
rivals, even at this price, come
2 Line-level inputs close to the solidity of this Dedicated circuits fine-tune sound
The fve line-level inputs are all amplifer, the wonderfully precise
The story is similarly positive when it
you’ll be getting. Mind you, that feeling of the controls or the sheer
comes to headphones. All that effort spent
should be fne for most of the slickness of the fnish.
designing a dedicated circuit has paid off
with a high-quality sound that mirrors that
available from the speaker outputs. The
adjustable impedance settings are well
worth playing with, as they really do help to
1 fine-tune the sound.
This Sony isn’t quite flawless though.
2
3 Compared to Roksan’s Caspian M2, the
current champ in this sector, there is a
shortfall of rhythmic drive; the TA-A1ES
volume system that varies output transistor USE IT WITH doesn’t convey the momentum or changes
bias with level to optimise sound regardless in pace of music as well as it might. We’d
of listening volume.
Sony like a bit more punch too – it all seems just a
Does all this work pay off? Yes, largely it
HAP-Z1ES touch polite at the moment.
does. The TA-1ES is an impressively pure- This music server None of these shortcomings is fatal. The
sounding product. Its presentation is clear, natural partner for TA-A1ES remains a talented amplifier, and
immensely detailed and as precise as we’ve the TA-A1ES, and a well worthy of serious consideration.
heard at this level. great way to play
It sounds right at home regardless of music fles
whether we listen to Orff’s highly charged Rating ★★★★
Carmina Burana or Eminem’s Marshall FOR Impressive clarity and precision; admirable
Mathers LP2. detail resolution; fuid sound; build and fnish
We’re taken by the scale and authority of AGAINST Doesn’t convey rhythms particularly
the sound when we listen to Carmina well; needs more sonic punch
Burana; the stereo image extends well
VERDICT Not perfect, but talented enough in
beyond the outer edges of our reference
key areas to demand serious consideration
ATC SCM 50 speakers and is delivered with
a great deal of confidence.
The TA-A1ES goes loud too – we try a Also consider
range of speakers including Spendor A6Rs Roksan Caspian M2 £1800
and KEF’s LS50s, and the amp always ★★★★★
sounds more muscular than its 80-watt per A recent price rise hasn’t
channel power output suggests. On a diminished our enthusiasm for our current
practical note, it does tend to run rather champ in this sector – a brilliant all-rounder
FIRST TESTS turntable
Pro-Ject Elemental | Turntable | £150
Fine deck ticks all boxes for newcomers to vinyl
Pro-Ject has long been the master of
great-value turntables – and the
Elemental simply reinforces that fact. A
bargain £150 buys a complete turntable
package, including an in-house arm and a
rather capable Ortofon OM5E moving-
magnet cartridge.
This deck is about as plug and play a
record player as we’ve come across. It
comes with the arm and cartridge attached
and pre-adjusted, right down to having the
bias force and tracking weight set.
There isn’t any means of levelling the
deck, and it doesn’t have suspension to
isolate it from external vibrations, so you’ll
need an appropriately set up, low-
resonance support. After that, just fit the
drive belt, plug it in and off you go.
Those looking for an electronic speed
change will be disappointed: changing from
331/3 to 45rpm is a manual job that requires
the user to move the drive belt from the
smaller step on the motor pulley to the
larger one. Most rivals need the same.
In detail
The Ortofon OM5E cartridge works well with
the arm, which is weighted specifcally for it
and is biased accordingly
12 www.whathif.com
The Elemental is about as
‘plug and play’ as you’re
likely to get with a record
deck. Set up is minimal
Pro-Ject has put plenty of thought
into the engineering of this deck. The
motor – a DC-type, for smoothness – main
bearing and arm all sit in line on a single
piece of wood. To this slim plinth, the
company has added a mass anchor below
the main bearing in the form of an artificial
stone base. This base not only adds stability
to the structure, but also acts as an energy
sink for any noise generated by the bearing
and motor. The arm is a decently made unit
with the right amount of bias force for the
Ortofon cartridge designed in. Even the
counterweight is fixed in place.
Decent, sturdy build
Build is relatively sturdy and finish is fine
for the price. There are three colour options
for the plinth: if the white of our review
sample doesn’t appeal you can have red or
black instead. The MDF platter and felt mat
are available only in black
How does the Elemental perform? Once
settled, it delivers a surprisingly capable
sound. The deck has a tidy presentation
– one that delivers a good amount of insight
alongside a surefooted rhythmic structure.
Play Bob Marley’s Stir It Up and this
Pro-Ject delivers a convincing sound with a
nicely agile bassline and well-proportioned
vocals. There’s plenty of detail in Marley’s
voice, and enough subtlety to make us
forget we’re listening to an entry-level deck.
The Elemental delivers
a surprisingly capable
sound, delivering
good insight
alongside a surefooted
rhythmic structure
We’re pleased with the player’s fluid way
with dynamics and its ability to tie
instrumental strands together to form a
USE IT WITH well-organised whole.
Ravel’s Bolero shows that the Elemental
Yamaha is capable of rendering a good soundstage.
A-S500 It’s nicely layered and fairly large in scale.
£250
A fne budget Fine value for money
amplifer that delivers Bolero also reveals that the deck isn’t easily
a sound full of energy fazed, the music sounding composed even
and drive. when things get busy. While this record
player isn’t going to stun with authority or
outright punch, in each area we think it
delivers enough to satisfy with the kind of
equipment it’s likely to be partnered with.
Those who want a good-quality record
player at an entry-level price should start
here. They won’t be disappointed.
Rating ★★★★★
FOR A cohesive and engaging sound; plug-and-
play nature; clever engineering; good build
AGAINST No lid; needs care in placement
VERDICT The Elemental is yet another
top-class budget deck from Pro-Ject.
It’s a fne frst step on the vinyl ladder
Also consider
Pro-Ject
Essential II £200
★★★★★
A more conventional deck but this Award-
winner has a lid and sounds great

Korg DS-DAC-100 | Digital to analogue converter | £400
Is a talent with DSD files enough?
Korg is best known as a maker of musical
instruments and studio-orientated
electronics, so it’s something of a surprise
to get a domesticated DAC/headphone
amplifier from the brand.
The DS-DAC-100 is hardly a run-of-the-
mill product though, as is apparent from its
swoopy shape. You’ll find just a single
asynchronous USB input and a trio of
analogue outputs – one for headphones
alongside line-level single-ended and
balanced XLR connections.
That prominent volume control on the
front panel works only with the headphone
output, so the DS-DAC-100 can’t be used as
a stripped-down digital preamp like
Cambridge’s £300 DacMagic Plus.
Dedicated media-playing software
The Korg is also somewhat unusual in that
the company has gone to the trouble of
developing dedicated media-playing
software for it called AudioGate. Use the
DAC and software together and it is possible
to stream DSD music files as well as the
more conventional PCM files (upper limit
24-Bit/192kHz). The AudioGate software
can even convert such files to DSD on the
fly, using your computer’s processing power
to do the number crunching. There are
sonic benefits in doing such a conversion –
there’s an increase in sonic fluidity, for
example. But there are also compromises
when it comes to rhythmic precision.
The DS-DAC-100’s build is good. We’re
impressed with the curved casework, which
is solidly put together and nicely finished.
There’s a series of indicators on the front
panel to show the sampling rate of the
incoming signal, including ones for
standard and double-speed DSD.
We’re not particularly taken with the
DAC’s ‘spike and cup’ feet arrangement,
though. It allows the Korg to slide around
on our desk every time it’s used. Annoying.
This DAC – once you’ve loaded the
dedicated PC or MAC software driver – can
be used with a music player like iTunes, but
It’s not going to blend into
the background, but the
Korg looks and feels like
a class piece of kit
Digital-to-analogue converter FIRST TESTS
it makes more sense when it’s used as
intended with Korg’s AudioGate. It’s only
then its DSD capabilities can be exploited.
It’s a winner with DSD files
With this firmly in mind we try DSD files of
what is arguably Stevie Wonder’s finest
album, Innervisions. Living for the City is as
good a place to start as any, and the Korg
does pretty well. There’s a likable fluency
about the sound and a good degree of
insight. Stevie’s vocals are delivered with
energy, and the Korg sounds composed and
in control even when the music gets busy.
There’s decent agility and pleasing attack,
making for an engaging listen.
Moving onto Lorde’s Pure Heroine
(24-bit/48kHz) and the DAC’s solid punch
and midrange clarity come to the fore. The
sparse production works well with the
Korg’s clean presentation and we’re struck
by the balanced tonality – no part of the
frequency spectrum gets undue emphasis.
These positive qualities are apparent
regardless of whether we play a CD rip of
The Hobbit OST, a 24-bit/176.4kHz version
of Michael Jackson’s Thriller or a low-res
192kbps version of Eminem’s Mockingbird.
That’s not to say the DS-DAC-100 is
perfect. Despite its obvious talent we’d like
more expressive dynamics. At the moment
it sounds just a little reined in, so music
isn’t quite as engaging as it should be.
Can be bettered with ‘normal’ hi-res
Similarly, rhythmic drive could be just a
little more surefooted and forceful. Put
these two shortcomings together and the
result is a sound that is admirable for its
insight and balance but doesn’t manage to
entertain as much as it should.
Despite its far lower price tag, HRT’s
microStreamer is a serious rival to the Korg
in terms of performance. It’s got more
expressive dynamics and crisper timing,
though lacks the Korg’s sonic solidity.
Resolution is limited to 24Bit-96kHz too.
In detail
1 2
3
1 Asynchronous USB and that large volume control on
This is the only input - which limits the front suggests the Korg can be
this unit’s use a fair amount. used as a digital preamp. It can’t.
You’ll need to load dedicated driver
software for the DAC to work with 3 DSD enabled
your PC or Mac. DSD, or Direct-Stream Digital is a
system of recreating audio signals.
2 Analogue outputs Superior to CD’s PCM, it was
The combination of these outputs originally used for SACD playback.
USE IT WITH Of course, if DSD replay is important to
you, the Korg remains the choice. The
Grado AudioGate software is easy to use, but our
SR325is early sample of the software was glitchy.
£300 Hopefully this will be sorted out soon.
These Grados are This is an interesting unit. Performance
exciting and with conventional high-res recordings has
informative. They appeal but is bettered by cheaper
make the most of the alternatives. Whether you should buy one
Korg’s insight and hinges on how much you value DSD replay.
precision
Rating ★★★
FOR DSD ability; controlled, composed sound
AGAINST Performance with conventional
recordings is bettered by cheaper rivals;
AudioGate software needs to be more stable
VERDICT A decent DAC that handles DSD fles.
But cheaper rivals best it with normal hi-res
Also consider
HRT microStreamer £190
★★★★★
Far cheaper, far smaller
and in most ways sounds
even better
www.whathif.com 13

Marantz PM6005 | Stereo amplifier | £300
Amp star shines bright
Marantz knows how to make good
budget amps. It has traditionally been
very strong in this department, with
its PM6004 winning our stereo amp
Product of the Year Award in 2011.
Since then, Marantz has had
overwhelming competition. The
Rotel RA-10 came along with better
sound, and the NAD D 3020 offered
better features. Now Marantz has put
forward the PM6005 – and we’re pleased to
say it is a very strong riposte.
No mistaking the lineage
Anyone familiar with Marantz’s previous
output will recognise the look of the
PM6005, which has barely changed since
earlier iterations and is once again available
in black or Champagne gold. It’s a little safe,
but there’s nothing wrong with maintaining
a sense of heritage, especially when there’s
a matching CD player (the CD6005).
It’s a handsome machine. The front has a
symmetrical faceplate, which curves away
gently at the sides. Build quality has always
been good, but this time the knobs are all
made of metal.
There’s a smattering of buttons. You can
flick between two sets of speaker outputs,
or use both of them. ‘Loudness’ turns up
the bass and treble to have greater impact
on lower volumes. We’re not big fans of
doing that. ‘Source Direct’ lets you bypass
the tone controls for better sound quality.
Digital inputs for the new DAC
Around the back you’ll find five sets of
analogue inputs and one output next to the
terminals. You also get digital optical and
coax inputs, as there is now a 24-bit/192kHz
DAC on board.
This is a most welcome development,
even if it feels a little half-hearted: a USB
input would have been nice; there’s also no
sign of Bluetooth. Although we like the
Marantz having more features than usual,
the PM6005 doesn’t push the boat out
quite as far as the NAD D 3020.
Onwards to sound, and the Marantz
PM6005 is a talented, likeable performer.
We heaped praised on the PM6004 when it
won an Award in 2011, but its successor is
ahead at every turn. The sound is clearer,
System builder total build £800
CD player
Marantz CD6005 ★★★★★ £300
The amp’s partnering CD player
is just as much a winner. –
A fantastic player and
superb value for money.
more detailed, better timed
and more dynamic, all the while
retaining the smooth, easygoing
demeanour we like. If you’re a particular
fan of the sound of the PM6004, this one
is notably better.
There’s a good amount of energy here.
The PM6005 feels a little pluckier than its
more laid-back predecessors, and this is no
bad thing. Lorde’s sparse Pure Heroine is
full of simple bass lines, and these are
handled with enthusiasm. It’s not quite as
punchy or dynamic as the Rotel RA-10, but
the Marantz never feels lacking. Indeed, it is
a balanced, versatile performer.
Clarity, detail and space
We’re also impressed by the sense of space
and the airy presentation. The soundstage
is wide and neatly organised. Combine that
with an impressive level of clarity and bags
of detail, and it’s easy to pick out the
individual components making up even
the most complex of ensembles.
Take Wycliffe Gordon’s jazz take on
When the Saints Go Marching In – a mix of
distinct instruments and polyrhythm, and a
real tongue-twister for any system. Every
sound has its place, and room to perform.
Trombones, banjos and ukuleles are
textured and easily identifiable without
ever straining for attention. The Marantz
demonstrates great control and excellent
timing. A switch to a Rotel RA-10, doesn’t
result in the same level of insight.
We switch to digital inputs and find the
on-board DAC to be competent. Its
performance is broadly similar to our other
Speakers
Wharfedale Diamond 121
★★★★★ £200
The latest generation of this classic
range are real winners, providing
fabulous sound at the price.
stereo amplifier FIRST TESTS
The PM 6005 is
available in black, or
Marantz’s traditional
Champagne gold
In detail
1 Digital inputs not been forgotten: you’ll still fnd
This time around the amp ofers a decent phono stage and a tape
digital inputs, to take advantage of loop for recording.
its new DAC. It’s very welcome, but
a USB input would be good too. 3 Twin speaker outputs
You can run two pairs of
2 Line-level speakers from the Marantz,
The more old-school inputs have either individually or together.
1
3
2
findings, and we’re glad to see Marantz has
included it. We hope to see a USB input on
the next update, but this is a good start.
By now, it’s a pretty safe bet that a
Marantz 6000-series amp will do pretty
well. That being said, we’re pleased at how
much progress we’ve seen. Marantz is back,
and its rivals should be worried.
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Spacious, organised sound; great timing;
plenty of detail; good energy
AGAINST Could be a little punchier; no USB;
no Bluetooth
VERDICT A hugely talented amplifer and a
real comeback for Marantz
Also consider
Rotel RA-10
£350 ★★★★★
Less rhythmically
precise and not as well
organised, but punchier
www.whathif.com 15
FIRST TESTS SMARTPHONE
LG G Flex | Smartphone | £590 SIM free
A new kind of flexible friend
LG is back and it’s innovating – that’s the
message the Korean company is keen to get
out there. After several years spent on the
smartphone sidelines, it’s doing all it can to
make up for lost time, and just one look at
the G Flex tells you it means business.
Pushing boundaries with design in the
same way the G2 did with high-res music,
its curved, flexible shape makes for a great
conversation starter down the pub, and it’s
quite the technical marvel.
But what could all too easily be
dismissed as a gimmick on first glance is
actually quite something when you start to
use it. It sits in your hand nicely for both
landscape and portrait use, will fit perfectly
into most back pockets and curves well to
hug the side of your face during calls.
Would we pick it over other smartphones,
purely for its design? Probably not, but it’s
an early-adopter’s dream.
Design tricks and treats
It’s flexible, which adds a durable edge to its
design charm, and comes with a few built-in
party tricks. Place it face down on a desk
and you can put pressure on it that’ll near
on flatten it without issue. Plus it features
a self-healing back panel that’ll take the
surface scratches caused by keys, coins and
knocks and make them disappear. Don’t try
and test its limits though – this is no miracle
cure for out-and-out carelessness.
It is big though. We’re loath to knock it
for that, because if you’re even considering
Place it face down on a desk and you can put
pressure on that will near on fatten it without
issue. Plus it features a self-healing back panel
that will make surface scratches disappear
Three essential apps
Spotify
★★★★★ £from free (p56)
A music-on-the-go must-have,
ofering more than 20 million
tracks, stacks of features and
some heavy-hitting exclusives.
16 www.whathif.com
it, its size is likely to be a positive. But six
inches sits very much in that grey area In detail
between phone and tablet for us – it dwarfs
the iPhone, and even makes the 5.2-inch G2
look small. It has, however, kept the bezel
down to a minimum to make sure you get
maximum screen real estate for minimum
phone bulk.
Customise the keys
Its size does mean one-handed use can be
next-to impossible without some serious
finger gymnastics, but LG has included
some software tweaks to help improve that.
Both the dialler and keyboard can be made
smaller and shifted to the left or right of the The only physical buttons on the G Flex are
on the back of the handset, and consist of
screen, as can the three main touch buttons
a lock button and volume controls
at the bottom of the display, which is
genuinely useful.
LG has included its ‘Knock On’ feature,
meaning you can wake the phone with a
well judged double tap to the screen
instead of reaching for an unlock button.
There are some nice gesture controls to
make things easier too, such as answering
a call by moving the G Flex to your ear or
silence your alarm by turning it over.
Finally, the rear-mounted buttons that
debuted on the G2 appear here too, now
slightly more prominent for easier pressing.
Spec-wise, this is largely a G2 in a larger
body. It features the same snappy 2.2GHz To help make the LG easier to use, you’re able
quad-core Qualcomm processor, offers 2GB to organise the three main touch buttons to
RAM and packs 32GB of non-expandable
the left- or right-hand side of the screen
storage, which dips to 24GB after making
way for the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
operating system. It also offers the same
13MP camera and all the high-res music
capabilities of its smaller brother.
Quick and smooth
When it comes to performance, the G Flex
feels quick and responsive to use and
powers through multitasking without a
second thought. Menus swipe without lag,
webpages load quickly and games run
smoothly. But then you’d expect that
from a phone costing £590 SIM-free.
What you might not expect though,
is a 720p screen, and we’re lost as to
why LG chose this route for the G
Flex. If you’re buying a phone with a
Netflix BBC iPlayer
£5.99/month ★★★★★ £free
A screen this big is just asking for Our favourite video app, and it’s
some mobile movie watching. easy to see why. Pretty much
Netfix is great for classic movies all that the Beeb has to ofer
and the best American dramas. on-demand, and easily accessed.

6in screen, that screen is
probably one of the biggest selling
points. Given that most of its competitors
offer a 1080p screen it feels hard to defend,
particularly given that price.
This drop in resolution is noticeable,
particularly at this screen size, and if you’re
coming from a 1080p screen, it will take
some adjusting to. There’s a definite grain
to the screen, and while you won’t see too
much difference in something like web
browsing, video quality takes a knock, even
if contrast levels are good and colours
appear largely natural.
While this lower-quality screen is a big
shame, it does allow the G Flex a good
battery life. At 3500mAh, it’s bigger than
the battery in the G2, but even with the
extra screen to power, heavy users could
easily get over a day’s use. Of course, video
marathons are likely to drain the battery
somewhat; streaming a 90-minute movie
over wi-fi on half brightness in our test
used up 20 per cent of the battery life. Make
SMARTPHONE FIRST TESTS
sure you use the included
charger for the fastest
charging times too.
Music performance on the
G Flex is a similar story to the
LG G2, with high-res music
smarts present and correct.
While we applaud LG for helping
to push high-res music into the
mainstream, its execution is only
a partial success. Listening to
Lorde’s Royals in high-res, there is
great subtlety and a real sense of
texture to the music, but it doesn’t
quite have the rhythmic wherewithal
or percussive drive to carry a track the
way the iPhone does.
Pixels aren’t everything
We found the camera on the G Flex to be
a bit of a disappointment. While its 13MP
spec sounds impressive, the results are
pretty underwhelming compared with the
competition. It’s not helped by its lack of
optical image stabilisation, found on the
G2 but left out on the G Flex. This results in
images that are often soft, noisy and lack
detail, particularly in artificial light.
Like many cameraphones, the G Flex
fared much better in natural light than
indoors, where colours appeared largely
accurate, images were cleaner and detail
levels were improved.
Finally, LG has included a 3840 x 2160
4K video-capture mode on the G Flex for
making your own 4K ultra-high-definition
content. Well, someone’s got to…
There’s no doubt that the LG G Flex is an
impressive phone. Its problem is it has a
Both the software and
seriously capable smaller brother in the G2
the hardware of the
at nearly half the price, and a number of
G Flex push the
boundaries of design big-screen competitors snapping at its heels
with Full HD screens. But then there is that
head-turning design and those great
software tweaks. For those people that
want to stay ahead of the curve, the LG G
Flex is certainly worth considering.
USE IT WITH
Rating ★★★★
AKG FOR Distinctive design; great battery life; useful
K451 software touches; high-res music capability
£50 AGAINST 720p screen; camera could be
Portable, afordable better; no microSD slot; expensive
and with superb
VERDICT All the pros of the G2 plus a curvy cool
sound, it’s hard not to
factor. It’s just a shame about the low-res screen
love the AKG K451s.
Also consider
LG G2 £330 ★★★★
The G Flex’s smaller, fatter
sibling ofers a full HD screen and
more manageable dimensions,
not to mention a cheaper price.
www.whathif.com 17
FIRST TESTS wireless noise-cancelling headphones
Creative Aurvana Platinum | Bluetooth headphones | £250
Platinums only take bronze
Creative’s flagship Platinum model –
with its impressive combination of both
Bluetooth and noise-cancelling abilities –
brings improvements to the Aurvana Gold
(£180) that go beyond bigger 50mm drivers
and a new finish.
Noise-cancelling circuitry has also had
an upgrade, with the use of four
microphones rather than two. A new
‘Tri-Mode’ function gives three noise-
cancelling modes – Indoor, Outdoor or
Airplane – so sound can be more effectively
blocked out in specific environments.
Decent noise cancelling
Many so-called noise-cancellers flop when
it comes to deterring sound. These ones live
up to their promise rather well though. Play
CHVRCHES’ Recover when switched to
‘Inside’ and the humdrum drone of the
office is severely lessened. ‘Outside’ mode
blocks out road traffic and river noise quite
effectively, while ‘Airplane’ pulls this off
slightly better. It’s still, though, not the
near silence produced by our supreme
sound-blockers, the Bose QuietComfort 15s.
The Platinum’s features don’t stop there.
Thanks to near field communication
(NFC), a Bluetooth connection (using
aptX with the right partnering kit) can
be made by tapping a compatible device
onto the headset.
Creative has brought some of its own
novelties on board too. Creative ShareMe
lets you share music with another Creative
wireless headset. The Platinums can also be
wirelessly connected to two music sources
simultaneously through Creative
Multipoint – handy when you’re waiting for
a conference call, say, while playing music
on another device.
Beautiful lookers
If anything outlines Creative’s intentions
into the business traveller market, though,
it’s the artistry engineered into the
headphones’ design. This is a pristine pair
of cans, clad in tan faux leather and a thick
silver plastic headband that would look
quite at home draped over the arm of a
business-class recliner. Thick memory-
foam earpads enclose the 50mm drivers
and fit snugly over our ears.
They are, however, on the bulky side,
and not exactly the ideal travel buddy
for a short morning commute – they
don’t collapse inwards or compress
their size in any way.
Thin headband cushioning doesn’t make
them particularly comfortable either.
Despite their luxurious design, ‘airplane’
noise-cancelling and airplane adapter
accessory, we imagine we’d struggle with
them after a while during a long-haul flight.
18 www.whathif.com
They look very classy,
but these aren’t the
most comfortable cans
we’ve ever clapped on
We wirelessly pair them to a Google
Nexus 7 tablet by holding down the
multifunction key. This button does most
of the work when it comes to pairing, voice
calling and playback controls. Pressing it
twice during playback also gives you a voice
status of battery levels. The rechargeable
battery should give you 15 hours of
playback or 21 hours of talk time.
There are separate volume controls and
skip buttons to change or search through
tracks and a switch to power noise-
cancellation – all on the right earcup. It
doesn’t take long to get used to the control
layout, and voice activation prevents you
having to take them off during playback.
Creative has gone to town with features
and usability, then. How about sound?
Just using Bluetooth – even aptX – strips
sound quality, of course. Even so, this
performance leaves something to be desired.
All the controls are on
the right earcup. The
input for charging via
USB is on the left
We chop and change between the
Platinums, Bose QuietComfort 15s and the
Philips M1BTs, and both rivals demonstrate
better clarity and vocal presence.
Creative has opted for a more reserved
presentation. The Platinums are fairly
subdued, putting Michael Jackson’s Scream
through the motions but failing to make its
naturally rapturous sound enthralling.
The M1BTs aren’t noise-cancelling,
but champ at the bit with most
recordings in comparison. It’s
this get-up-and-go approach
and a touch more dynamic
disparity that we hanker
for from the Platinums.
Detail and balance
It’s not all doom and
gloom. There’s
plenty of detail, and
tonally they’re as
balanced as you’d like.
A wired connection
brings more tonal
refinement and overall clarity,
but not enough to trump the reigning
champs at this price even then.
And that’s the crux of it. These Creatives
simply can’t compete with the Bluetooth or
USE IT WITH noise-cancelling chart-toppers.
They do cram both features – and more
Creative
– into one headset though, and this
BT-D1 dual-spec is rare in headphones at any
A Bluetooth USB price. If you’re desperate for decent
transmitter to enable sound-blockers for music on the move,
your PC to stream then these will make a decent choice.
music wirelessly
Rating ★★★
FOR Plenty of features; bags of detail; open
sound; smart looks
AGAINST Uncomfortable for long use; a bit
lethargic; thick bass; bulky
VERDICT Feature-packed and good-looking,
but don’t have the sound or comfort to match
Also consider
Logitech UE 9000
£300 ★★★★★
More expensive but
these are better
performers all round
FIRST TESTS ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEM
Cocktail Audio X30 | All-in-one system | £1000
Cocktail has everything in it
The Cocktail Audio X30 is a great idea:
a high-res streamer, server, CD player and
digital amplifier all wrapped up in one box.
It can also stream songs from your
smartphone or tablet, play internet and
FM radio, and record tunes at the press of
a button. Just add speakers.
The first thing you’re going to do with
the Cocktail Audio (after turning it on and
admiring that bright blue cocktail logo on
the display screen) is rip all your CDs. The
X30’s main aim is to store your CD
collection in one place, and it does so
seamlessly. Ripping a CD is fast and quiet
(unlike on the smaller X10), plus you can
listen to stored music while ripping.
You can also select individual tracks to
rip, instead of the entire CD, rename tracks
and create playlists. You’ll need to be
With all its features and options, the Cocktail Audio X30
could easily be the most convoluted and frustrating piece
of equipment to operate. But we were relieved and
surprised to fnd that it is fairly straightforward
connected to the internet to get all the
metadata on a CD, so make sure the X30
is always online.
Connect the X30 to your home network,
via either wired ethernet or the supplied
wireless dongle, and the X30 turns into a
streaming machine. If you already have
music files stored on a NAS device you’re in
luck. The X30 will stream from connected
NAS devices (via the Browser folder), as
well as from any other DLNA-compatible
smartphone or tablet.
It sounds like a wonderfully versatile
system (and it is), but it’s tricky to actually
get streaming. There’s no dedicated app, so
Cocktail Audio suggests a variety of generic
third-party apps, none of which worked
well enough for us. It requires a lot of
patience and false starts, and can be a
frustrating experience.
Internet radio
The network connection is also crucial for
streaming the X30’s internet radio service,
which offers a multitude of stations you can
System builder Total build £1830
Smartphone
Apple iPad Mini
£320 (16GB) ★★★★★
With its stunning fnish, intuitive
interface and substantial capacity,
the iPad Mini is a joy to use.
20 www.whathif.com
scroll through according to country or
genre. Sound quality takes a
predictable dip in quality compared
with ripped CD tracks, but it retains
the same tonal characteristics.
Wide format support
The Cocktail Audio X30 supports
most popular audio formats, from
compressed MP3s to high-resolution
WAV and FLAC files up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Other formats include AAC, Apple Lossless,
AIFF, and WMA; DSD support is still
pending. Also, before you start ripping CDs,
you can choose the type and quality of file
you want them stored as, as well as the
bitrate for the MP3s.
We wouldn’t compress files into MP3s, as
not only does the audio quality suffer, the
X30’s storage options are large enough
anyway to store hundreds of CDs. From a
500GB to 2TB hard drive, or up to a 500GB
solid-state drive, there’s a huge amount of
storage on offer. Our review sample’s 2TB
hard drive can reportedly store around
2600 CDs, or 5200 FLAC files, or 20,000
MP3 files in 320k. That’s a lot.
Neat recording feature
One nifty feature of the X30 that’s rarely
seen on other streamers or servers is the
recording feature. You can record from
internet radio, your smartphone-stored
tracks and even from your vinyl records
to fully digitise your entire collection. It
records instantly at the press of a button on
the remote, and is automatically saved in
the Browser menu.
With all its features and options, the
Cocktail Audio X30 could easily be the
most convoluted and frustrating piece of
equipment to operate. But we were relieved
and surprised to find that it is fairly
straightforward – after a quick perusal of
Headphones
Philips Fidelio M1
£160 ★★★★★
Smooth, refned and musical, these
Award-winning cans are a brilliant
listen when paired with the X30.
Streaming is a key
feature of the X30, the manual, of course. The
but establishing a menus and controls are responsive
connection isn’t easy and easy to navigate, with only minor
hiccups such as lag in operation.
We like the large 5in colour interface on
the front panel. While it’s not as
sophisticated as some, the display is
nevertheless easy to read from a distance.
Do-it-all remote
The remote control is a big and bulky affair
that has a button for nearly every feature of
the X30. Instead of fiddling with the control
knob and buttons on the front panel, the
remote lets you rip CDs or record songs
with a single button press. It may look
dated, but it gets the job done.
The X30 houses a 50W per channel
amplifier under its sturdy metal chassis,
with a decent spread of digital and analogue
connections. The coaxial and digital
connections (input and output) all support
files up to 24-bit/192kHz, as does the AES/
EBU output. A pair of line-level outputs is
available if you want to connect an existing
amplifier to the streamer, while three USB
ports (two at the back, one in front) are
there for playing high-resolution files or for
attaching the included wireless dongle.
All-inclusive nature
Speaker terminals, line-level inputs, an FM
radio tuner (the antenna is included), and
an ethernet port can also be found on the
back panel. On the front panel, there’s a
3.5mm input for hard-wiring your smart
device, and a 6.3mm headphone port.
Stereo speakers
Q Acoustics Concept 20
£350 ★★★★★
These lively, detailed and
open speakers will work a
treat with the Cocktail Audio.

In detail
1 Digital outputs 2 Analogue inputs
There’s ample provision for Just the one set of analogue
these but, given the X30’s ins. We think that’s a bit
all-in-one character, we can’t mean, and would like to have
see why you’d need them all. seen a second pair.
1 2
Now that all the features are dealt with,
it’s time to tackle the Cocktail Audio X30’s
most crucial function: sound. And this is
where its major flaw is exposed because,
despite all its fancy features, the X30 isn’t
really that interesting a listen. There’s
nothing unpleasant about the sound by
any means – a decent amount of detail,
punch and the ability to go loud is all
on the cards here.
But there’s no real engagement beyond
the surface detail; the X30 doesn’t seem
able to dig out the subtleties of a song, and
is content to deliver a superfcial summary.
There’s impact and decent clarity, but the
dynamics aren’t fluid, and the overall
sound is rather one-dimensional.
ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEM FIRST TESTS
3 Internet access 4 USB times three
A wireless dongle is supplied Two of the three USB ports
as standard but, as ever, – essentially for high-res fles
we’d opt for the stability of a and attaching the wireless
wired ethernet connection. dongle – are round the back.
3 4
The Dead Weather’s intricately arranged
60 Feet Tall sounds flat and emotionless,
with no build-up of tension in this brooding
song. The X30 doesn’t time particularly
well, either. Eminem’s The Way I Am has a
good amount of bite and attack, but we’d
like a touch more precision and agility to
get the full impact of that punchy rhythm.
High-res performance
High-res files have a touch more detail and
openness to them. You can hear the rough
edges of Lorde’s vocals on Royals (on a
24-bit/48kHz file), but there’s still a lack of
dynamic subtlety to the track. You’ll also
need to turn up the volume quite high to
get any real sense of punch and excitement.
If this review were based on the X30’s
features set alone, then it would get a solid
four stars. Despite some operational
hiccups, the sheer versatility of the X30
is impressive and clearly its biggest
attraction. Nothing else we’ve reviewed so
far has come close to the combination of
amp, streamer and server here offered by
Cocktail Audio.
We’d be worried, though, about
recommending this as your sole music
system, as it simply doesn’t sound good
enough. You’d be buying the X30 for its
features, not for its sound quality. And for
£1000, we could easily point you in the
direction of far more exciting, involving and
interesting hi-fi set ups.
Rating ★★★
FOR Excellent features; versatile streaming and
storage; good fle support; recording feature
AGAINST Not the most involving sound;
streaming from smartphones could be simpler
VERDICT This versatile device has plenty of
features, but sound quality isn’t one of them
Also consider
Cambridge Audio
Minx Xi £600 ★★★★★
It may not rip CDs or have a hard drive built in,
but it does have Bluetooth, is a lot cheaper
and, most importantly, it sounds terrifc.
www.whathif.com 21
News * Analysis * Opinion
INSIDER
Smart TV
4K or bust: Can 4K
Ultra HD save the
televison business?
The technology has arrived – but has the content?
I
t’s tough times for the TV
industry. Sony, the latest
casualty of sorts, took the
bold step of splitting is failing TV
business from the rest of its core
business, while announcing it
would be focusing on premium,
4K Ultra HD televisions.
And as the recent Consumer
Electronics Show highlighted,
Sony is not the only one pinning
its hopes on 4K. But can 4K go
mass market? Can we afford it?
Is there anything to watch? And
how will we watch it?
Supply and demand
The latest report from NPD
DisplaySearch suggests the cost
of 4K TVs has fallen to such an
extent that they are now more
accessible to consumers.
We’re told 1.9 million 4K sets
were shipped in 2013, and that’s
set to rise to 12.7 million in 2014.
With OLED seemingly on the
back-burner – notable by its
almost complete absence at CES
4K is now seen as the way
forward for high-def
television – OLED sets
are thin on the ground
24 www.whathif.com
– NPD DisplaySearch’s Paul
Gagnon says: “4K has become a
focal point in the interim.”
Content is key
With the TV industry preparing
for a rapid increase in 4K TV
sales during 2014, there’s little
doubt the technology should
become increasingly affordable
in the regular consumer market.
But is there anything to watch?
According to Deloitte’s 2013
report 4K Kicks Off, the cost to
broadcasters of creating a 4K
channel was estimated to be in
the region of $15m, while there
were also issues over how much
bandwidth would be needed.
That said, the report did suggest
2014 could be a year of real
progress on both fronts.
Here in the UK, broadcasters
such as Sky and the BBC have
Here in the UK, broadcasters including
Sky and the BBC have taken the frst
steps towards live 4K broadcasts – and
BT may also be about to join the race
taken the first steps towards live
4K broadcasts with tests of 4K
video – and BT has said it will be
looking in to the possibility, too.
For something more concrete,
we can look to the FIFA World
Cup Final, which will be shot
and broadcast (though we’re
not sure how and where) in
4K this summer.
Despite rumours around 4K
Blu-ray – no, ‘Mastered in 4K’
discs don’t count – there are no
signs of that yet, and it would
require new hardware.
Streams not discs
What about streaming? Sony’s
Video Unlimited 4K library and
4K Ultra HD Media Player
haven’t yet made it to the UK
4K TV
despite launching in the US
FACTS & FIGURES
We have, however, seen Netfix
and YouTube streaming 4K – will
3840 pixels × 2160
resolution
8.3 megapixels
16:9 aspect ratio
1.9 millon units
sold in 2013
we be streaming not spinning 12.7 million units
4K? Again, there are hardware expected to be sold
demands, however (see right). during 2014
Will 4K kickstart the
struggling TV market and save 4K TV average price set
us from supermarket special to fall below $1000 in
sets, and in so doing save China in 2014
famous TV brands such as Sony?
Or will the premium TV market 27 million 4K TV panels
claim more victims such as expected to be produced
Pioneer, Panasonic plasma and during 2014
more? At the moment, there
remain plenty of questions...
 The Dash – smart buds Fidelio E2 speakers
Munich-based Bragi unveils Philips’ Fidelio E2 Bluetooth
The Dash – the ‘world’s frst’ speaker system can connect to
smart headphones. a TV, PC or games console
www.whf.cm/Bragi www.whf.cm/FidelioE2

Analysis
World Cup 2014 –
a catalyst for 4K
TV to go into the
mainstream?
Content editor Pete Hayman

B
razil winning last summer’s FIFA Confederations
Cup on home soil was by no means groundbreaking.
Football fans of all generations – both young and old
– have seen the Brazilians lift a trophy at some point. But
what was groundbreaking about the tournament was the
news that 4K broadcast trials had been a success.
As a result, sports fans are now being promised a ‘richer
and more exciting viewing experience’ with FIFA and Sony
bringing the 2014 World Cup Final to us in Ultra HD – though
quite how we will be able to see it remains to be seen.
Even if you don’t agree with those who argue that the
football World Cup is unrivalled in terms of size and stature
(when compared with, say, the Olympic Games), it is still a
fantastic stage on which 4K TV has the chance to shine.

Live sport could prove to

For more news, reviews and
be a great testing ground
buying advice, visit whathif.com
for 4K, reaching out like
few TV genres can

Netflix 4K: Streaming solution

With 4K content in short
supply at the moment,
online streaming services
such as Netfix could fll
the gap – and even be
the long-term solution.
We saw a preview of
Netfix 4K at CES earlier
this year, and it’s now a
reality: House of Cards
(S2) is being streamed
in all its 4K glory and all fve
series of Breaking Bad are also going to be available on Netfix in 4K.
But there’s a catch... For a start, you’ll be able to watch only if you have a
TV with the HEVC decoder (the codec Netfix 4K uses) and the special
version of the Netfix app. Some LG, Samsung and Sony 2014 TV models will
have this, but it won’t work on other 4K sets. And Netfix recommends a
broadband speed of 15Mbps for decent 4K streaming – but even with the
new codec you could burn through around 7GB of data in an hour.
Netfix believes 4K is best suited to online streaming rather than physical
formats. It is a point emphasised by chief product ofcer, Neil Hunt: “The cost
and efort of building a whole new disc format for a relatively small number
of people isn’t going to happen, and the broadcasters aren’t going to deliver
in the short term. So it’s going to be internet-delivered.” To the right TV...
With all the discussion surrounding the availability
of 4K content depending on where you are in the
world, the use of an international event to showcase
the technology seems the ideal chance to reach all
corners of the globe.
It could also be the catalyst to prove to broadcasters
such as the BBC and Sky – maybe even BT Sport too – that
demand for live 4K broadcasting does exist and is worth
following up, even if it is just sport for the time being.
Live sport does seem to be a great testing tool for new
TV technologies. After all, who wasn’t intrigued when you
could watch 3D football in pubs across the UK? The fact
that 3D didn’t really stick is another issue…
It doesn’t matter if your money is on Brazil, Germany,
Spain, or even England, it’s going to be interesting to see
whether 4K emerges as a World Cup winner this summer.
TOP 5 New launches
B&W 600 Series, Geneva Model XXL,
Q Acoustics Concept 40 and more

www.whathif.com 25
INSIDER Bose has shown itself adept at turning out wireless
speakers, with fve-star reviews for the likes of the
SoundLink Mini. The SoundLink III, £260, is the latest
full-size Bluetooth speaker http://whf.cm/BoseIII

1
1 TEAC SL-D930 £200
The SL-D930 is an all-in-one music system that
combines AM/FM radio, top-loading CD player
and wireless Bluetooth capabilities. A 2.1-channel
speaker system, it’s powered by a Class-D amplifer
that delivers 20 watts of power. The “chrome-
bedecked classic 1950s American car” design is
available in black, red, silver and white, and it should
certainly turn a few heads. Due on sale for £200,
head to http://whf.cm/TEACSystem for more.

TOP 5 New launches

2
Geneva Model XXL £2500
The Model XXL is a soundbar, soundbase
and AV rack all rolled in to one, space-saving
cabinet (albeit a rather large one). The XXL has
seven speakers, each individually powered, and an
8in subwoofer. There’s DAB/FM radio, plus AirPlay
and Bluetooth streaming. Seven inputs, including
2 three HDMI 1.4 connections, mean if you can fnd
the space, it won’t leave you short of system
options. http://whf.cm/ModelXXL

3
B&W 600 series
£350-£1150
B&W has completely overhauled
its iconic 600 series line-up, with the
company claiming the six new speakers
represent a ‘dramatic improvement’ on 4
its existing range. The Double Dome
Tweeters and Kevlar cones have been
taken from the CM10 speaker, while new
Dual Layer aluminium bass drivers and

4
3
tweeters have been ftted to further Q Acoustics Concept 40
improve the performance. Look out £1000
for a review of the new B&W 685 The Concept 40s are the foorstanding
speakers next month (or online). version of the Concept 20s, which were our
For more information on all the new stereo speaker Product of the Year for 2013.
speakers, and a host of lovely pictures, Q Acoustics claims they will deliver ‘unparalleled
head to http://whf.cm/600series. soundstage, dynamics and sheer musicality.’
Powerful, oversized magnets are attached to the
drive units to lower the cabinet’s resonance,
while a tripod stand ensures a rigid connection

5
Audio Research CD6 £8050 with the foor. http://whf.cm/Concept40
If you’re in the money-no-object category, 5
this slab of Audio Research electronics
should be on your radar. The CD6 is a high-
resolution CD player and DAC, and a replacment
for the CD5. It delivers a whole host of inputs and
outputs as you’d expect, and we expect serious
levels of performance for the money. For more
information, head to http://whf.cm/CD6DAC

26 www.whathif.com
 speakers £100-£200

SUPERTEST
FirstGear
If you’re starting out in hi-fi, if your budget isn’t big, or even if you just want
decent sound for the spare room, these small wonders are the place to start

Tested

Cambridge audio Dali pioneer Q acoustics roth Tannoy Yamaha

SX-50 £130 Zensor 1 £200 S-CN301-LR £200 2020i £170 OLi RA2 £150 Mercury V1i £150 NSBP182 £100
page 30 page 31 page 33 page 34 page 36 page 37 page 39

28 www.whathif.com
 speakers SUPERTEST

W
hether you’re looking for your first pair of speakers
or perhaps a second pair for a bedroom, look no
further than the next few pages. We’ve rounded up
seven pairs of stereo speakers, including two old favourites, all
at less than £200, to see which are perfect for your pad. Will
anything be able to oust our Award-winner from last year, the
Q Acoustic 2020is?
Typically, these speakers will be used with microsystems
such as Denon’s D-M39, or quality budget separates from the
likes of Cambridge Audio, NAD or Marantz. However you
intend to use them, though, it’s good to know that there is
some high-class equipment out there with a performance that
belies its budget price. As most of this group clearly show.

Join us on Spotify
whf.cm/playlist2014
Listen to our favourite tracks every month!

For more news, reviews and

buying advice, visit whathif.com

www.whathif.com 29
Cambridge Audio SX-50 £130
★★★★ ★
Cambridge Audio has managed to pack
great things into small packages of late in
the form of its fne wireless speakers. Can
it repeat the trick with these, its smallest,
most afordable bookshelf model?
Living up to the company’s ‘sound frst’
principles, there’s not much razzle-dazzle
to be found in the design. The straight-
edged MDF cabinets feel a little basic and
the bafe is mostly occupied with the
25mm silk-dome tweeter and 135mm
mid/bass driver.
Traditional looks, fine sound
The SX-50s are dressed in a reasonable
black or dark-walnut veneer. If you are
familiar with the SX-60s standmounts
(reviewed in our September 2013 issue)
the SX-50s are much alike but about 12cm
shorter, and with rear- instead of
front-fring bass refex ports to accompany
the single speaker terminals.
The sparkle in these speakers, then,
may not lie in their looks – but that’s
because it’s jam-packed in the sound.
The SX-50s zip their way around
music with gusto, revelling in a good
amount of detail and clarity. Avicii’s Hey
Brother is delivered in high spirits without
30 www.whathif.com
losing composure as the bass-line kicks in.
Their enthusiastic way with rhythms and
a well-balanced poise helps to keep them
entertaining album after album.
Tight, integrated bass
A smooth midrange, sweet treble and a
clean, tight bass defne their tonal
balance. Disjointed or loose bass is a fairly
common downfall at this price; the
SX-50s’ fne integration bucks that trend.
Placing them 30cm or so from a rear
wall gives best results. Stick them against
a wall and their vocal clarity and wide
soundstage is somewhat compromised,
while they sound a little thin and airy
further out in the open. The cabinets are
24cm deep so make sure you have
enough room to house them properly.
Tune in to a more sorrowful track,
such as The Battle from the Gladiator
soundtrack, and enough emotion is
thrust out to keep things interesting
for the duration.
It’s only when we match the SX-50s up
against slightly more expensive rivals that
imperfections start to surface. The
Award-winning Q Acoustic 2020is – £35
more than the SX-50s – soar that much
further up the dynamic range in Dream Is They are traditional-
Collapsing from the Inception soundtrack, looking, but the SX-50s
and dig up more layers in Nina Simone’s ofer up a sprightly,
vocals in Feeling Good. entertaining sound
Excellent value for money
If you can spend the diference, the extra
ability the 2020is ofer make them a
highly attractive proposition. And that’s
what knocks the SX-50s down a star in
our rating.
Nevertheless, without knowing their
price we certainly wouldn’t have placed
the SX-50s in the lower half of the
£100-200 bracket. They’re brilliantly good
value and a class act to follow.
For the second – and hopefully not last
– time, Cambridge Audio’s SX series runs
away with our frm nod of approval.
Rating ★★★★ ★
FOR Exuberant sound; plenty of detail; tonally
balanced; clear, direct vocals
AgAinst A touch fussy with placement; more
ability is available at only a slightly higher price
VeRdict Sprightly SX-50s are a bargain – and
a worthy addition to any room’s furniture

Dali Zensor 1 £200
★★★★★
The Zensor 1s have been nearing the
top of our budget speaker superstar
list for a couple of years now. They
certainly made a solid contribution
to the Dali Zensor 1 5.1 surround sound
package achieving its Product of the
Year 2013 status.
Now, though, we’re treating them
as solo performers once again. Will
they meet similar success against
newcomers more than two years on
from their debut?
Well built and finished
They are rather handsome for their price.
Dali’s blueprint 13cm wood-fibre cone
and 25mm soft-dome tweeter are cased
in well-built cabinets. Three finishes are
available: black, white and – for those
who want a more traditional fnish –
walnut. No matter the option you go for,
though, the Zensor 1s will be one of the
more luxurious choices at this price.
Memory tells us that their
performance peaks when placed close to
a rear wall – a handily fuss-free
arrangement for those with limited
space. And our memory hasn’t deceived
us – we’re greeted with a satisfying blend
of weighty bass, clear, centrally placed
vocals and a room-filling sound.
Like a well-oiled machine with every
one of its parts in good nick, the Dalis
pride themselves on a spectacularly
detailed, clear, well-balanced sound, the
openness of which will suit most living
room sizes.
Fine all-rounders
They tread a fine line between
graciousness and ambition, navigating
nimbly around the more subtle
instrumentals in The Dark Knight Rises’
Gotham’s Reckoning before towering to
the summit of the composition with
punch and power.
And they feel as at ease with the
leftfield in Lorde’s Tennis Court as they
do with the bluesy slurs ubiquitous in
Ray Charles’ eponymous album.
This ‘best of both worlds’ outlook
results in an easy listenability that will
far outlive your playlist, whatever the
genre of music you’re listening to.
Conveying a great deal of vocal
transparency, the Zensor 1s spit out
Eminem’s 25 To Life with enough of the
recording’s angst and edginess to get his
speakers SUPERtESt
message across. Allow them to sink into There are two fnishes
a ballad and the Dalis wear their heart available for now, but a
firmly on their sleeve, beautifully white satin version is
exposing the varying textures of Eva promised soon
Cassidy’s voice in Fields Of Gold.
Strong competition
The Q Acoustic 2020is bagged the
Product of the Year gong at our 2013
Awards, possessing a touch more bite
and detail after stringent comparison –
and they have a price advantage. But on
no account should you discount the
Dalis from your listening shortlist – they
are extremely capable speakers, and can
compete with the best at this price.
By anyone’s standards, the Zensor 1s
are magnificent performers and remain
one of the highest-fliers in their field.
Rating ★★★ ★ ★
FOR Detailed sound; textured vocals; tonally
balanced; high-spirited delivery
AgAinst Nothing at the price
VeRdict Tallying up points with spot-on
musicality and versatility, the Zensor 1s’
performance exceeds price-tag expectations
www.whathif.com 31

Pioneer S-CN301-LR £200
★★★★ ★
We’ve been smitten with Pioneer’s
range of home cinema amps and budget
Blu-ray players recently, yet it’s been a
while since a pair of its speakers have
passed through our test-room doors.
So a warm welcome is given to its
latest standmounts – the S-CN301-LRs.
That might be a mouthful to pronounce,
but unbox the speakers and a favourable
first impression is as plain as day.
A polished-veneer finish makes them
not only one of the smartest speakers at
the price but one of the most well-built
too. Around a third smaller than most
rivals, they can happily take pride of
place on any bookshelf – good news for
someone who’s lacking room space or
doesn’t have the budget for stands.
Needless to say, though, quality stands
such as the Soundstyle Z2 would
unquestionably deliver a more solid
performance than any shelf.
Good things from small boxes
We give them a home on some Atacama
Nexus 6 stands (£70) and, a couple of
minutes into our first track – Alfie Boe
singing Bring Him Home – it is obvious
that good things can come from small
packages. We’re met with clear,
clean-cut vocals and an open,
room-filling soundstage.
Coupling terrific detail with nimble
dynamics, the Pioneers dance around
Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker: Waltz of
the Flowers and keep neatly on their toes
up and down the frequency range.
There’s a meticulous sense of each
instrument’s purpose as it flows fluidly
in and out of Beethoven’s String Quartet
in A Minor, Op. 132:1 Assai Sostenuto –
Allegro. We’d go so far as to say that, at
this price, they’re the most revealing
speakers we’ve heard.
What’s more, it’s a clean, measured
and refined presentation that makes
longer listens a welcome option.
They do feel a bit lightweight far from
a wall, however. We found that forsaking
a more expansive soundstage by moving
them close to a rear wall is justified by a
more assertive bass presence. But even
then, bass notes lack some depth and
seem a touch divorced from the solid
relationship between the midrange and
treble. This is a more noticeable
hindrance to upbeat, bass-driven music
where rhythm is key.
speakers SUPERtESt
Put them head-to-head with their These well-built
direct rivals, the Dali Zensor 1s (also speakers are smaller
£200) and that lack of drive makes than usual – but still
Wyclef Jean’s Perfect Gentleman feel beneft from stands
oddly tame – we much prefer being
rapt by the Dali’s giddiness as a result
of a finer balance between refinement
and excitement.
Great with less bassy music
The S-CN301-LRs may not induce as
much head-bopping as we’d like, but their
distinguished, spick-and-span sound,
insightful capability, and way with words
will work wonders for anyone with a
music collection that isn’t very bass-
driven. And with a nicely finished neat
design, they’ll surely be as appealing to
the eyes as they are to the ears.
Rating ★★★ ★ ★
FOR Impressively detailed; clean, refined
sound; fast, responsive dynamics; clear vocals
AgAinst Slightly disjointed bass; a little
picky with placement
VeRdict Polished, insightful performers
committed to revealing your music
www.whathif.com 33
SUPERtESt speakers
Q Acoustics 2020i £170
★★★★★
The 2020is have had us reaching for
superlatives since we first laid ears on
them three years ago – they are a 2013
Award winner in the sub-£200 stereo
speaker category, and it will take a
fantastic pair of speakers to best them.
Worthy Award winners
It’s too early to tell if anything will
relieve them of their Award – that night
is many months and many new products
away. As far as this Group Test goes,
though, we can’t help feeling that
things will be a bit of a smooth
sail for the 2020is.
They are warm and refined, but
manage to keep a sharp sting under their
belt to produce when required. More
than that, it’s their even-handed
temperament and control that makes
listening to our umpteenth test track as
enjoyable as the first.
Just as capable at upholding decorum
as they are igniting passion, they are as
polite with the mellowness of Priscilla
Ann’s Dream as they are energetic when
cranked up a gear to Lil Jon’s jarring Turn
Down For What. In terms of musical
genre, they aren’t fussy in the slightest.
34 www.whathif.com
An assertive bass works hand-in-hand
with a sweet treble and lucid midrange
to pedal nicely along to the electro-pop
beats of the Drive OST. A change of pace
with A Real Hero by College & Electric
Youth is handled with exceptional
clout and precision.
The 2020is prove tonally balanced,
particularly on stands and with a little
room to breathe, though they are quick
to find their feet when nearer a wall, too,
if space is at a premium.
Sticking to film scores, there’s a
natural wholeness to Alberto Iglesias’
George Smiley from the Tinker Tailor
Soldier Spy soundtrack, and a convincing
texture to its brass instruments. Fistfuls
of detail, scrupulous clarity and broad
dynamic scope seal the deal for these
star standmounters.
There’s nothing really of note to curb
our enthusiasm. Both the solidly made,
sleek cabinets and charming sound far
outweigh the price.
Worth mentioning on the subject
of price, however, is that the £170 we
quote above leaves you weighing up
a choice between the walnut (light
brown) and graphite (black) finish.
If you want the attractive white or The gloss white fnish
black gloss finishes, you’ll have to above will set you back
pay a £50 premium. an extra £50 – as
will the gloss black
Neat connectors
Another factor to note is that there are
two pairs of speaker terminals located
under the speakers. Their positioning
means that care must be taken with
chunkier cables, but its a tidy
arrangement for the neat freaks out
there – and means they can be bi-wired
for a generally better performance.
More smotherings of superlatives it is
then. The 2020is sail out of our test
room with their head held high yet
again. We are left wondering only if
anything will be able to stamp on their
toes come Awards time…
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Scrupulous detail; entertaining balance of
verve and restraint; smooth balance;
considerable dynamic prowess
AgAinst Awkward for chunkier speaker cable
VeRdict Nicely built and superb sounding,
the 2020is remain unbeatable at this price
Roth OLi RA2 £150
★★★ ★ ★
Sandwiched between the entry-level
RA1 bookshelfs and range-topping RA4
floorstanders, the RA2s take the position
of the earlier OLi 20, with tweaks to the
mid/bass driver and a bigger cabinet.
The 13cm fibreglass driver, 25mm
dome tweeter and a single pair of
terminals remain, though this time the
chassis dons a smart matte-black finish,
neat driver arrangement, and magnetic
grille. They look plush for the price.
Well made and nicely finished
They feel it too. The cabinets are solidly
made and smooth to handle, with nicely
finished curved edges.
We weren’t crazy about the OLi 20’s
sonic performance due to blemishes
in timing and bass delivery, so we’re
hopeful those changes to the driver
arrangement will improve things.
How does the new kid fare? A bit like
an intoxicated teenager, actually. Hostile,
daring and prone to lapses in
concentration, the RA2s generally
bulldoze their way through music,
staggering over much of the detail.
Eminem’s Cold Wind Blows is
manipulated into a one-pace ride and it’s
36 www.whathif.com
difficult to overlook an edgy hardness.
As if suffering from insomnia, the RA2s
even manage to induce a rush from Bon
Iver’s Holocene.
Despite the reworks to the driver, bass
feels placid and vague in Led Zeppelin’s
Stairway to Heaven. Unfortunately, bass
lines sound sluggish in general.
Heading north up the frequencies,
treble reveals a hardness and
overexuberance in the same track. We
ran the Roths in for a week to see if this
would calm down, but the high
frequencies remained the same.
A remarkable, likeable energy
Still, the energy they dig out of a track is
remarkable and we generally like their
positive attitude. The midrange and
treble work well in tandem to create that
upbeat tempo, delivering Kanye West’s
All of the Lights with all the zest and zeal
it deserves.
Any rival will find it hard to compete
with this enthusiasm. True exhibitionists,
the Roths will appeal to those who like a
raw and edgy twang to their music.
Their sense of openness easily fills
a soundstage too, and vocals are clear
and focused – especially when the The RA2s look classy
speakers are 20-30cm from a rear wall for the price, and build
and slightly toed-in. on the features of their
There are things to like about the predecessor OLi 20s
RA2s. Vocal clarity and spaciousness are
flattering traits, though it’s their clear
enthusiasm for music that we find most
admirable. If you’re looking to juice up
your system, they will offer more
cartons of it than any close rival.
But good intentions don’t always pay
off, and the Roth’s narrow-minded
manner won’t appeal to all. And it’s
Catch-22 for anyone who likes even a
smidgeon of smoothness and finesse.
Without greater detail, a finer-tuned
bass, subtler treble and more tact with
mellower tracks, it’s hard to give the
RA2s our stamp of approval.
Rating ★★★ ★ ★
FOR Energetic, lively sound; clear midrange
AgAinst Overlooks detail; distracting
hardness to the treble; undefined bass
VeRdict Adrenalin junkies that bounces off
the walls, but their one-track mind is an
obstacle to our approval

Tannoy Mercury V1i £150
★★★★ ★
Tannoy’s V4 floorstanders aren’t the
only pair in the Mercury range to have
walked the upgrade path for ‘i’ series
status. Meet their significant, and
shorter, other: the V1i standmounters.
At first glance it would be fair to
dismiss any changes to the V1 model –
cosmetically the two are very alike.
Available in ‘sugar maple’ or ‘dark
walnut’ (i.e. tan or dark brown),
the sturdy cabinets bear Tannoy’s
customary silver-trimmed drivers
to retain their classy look.
Most of the changes are internal
But hidden from view there’s an
upgraded crossover, new wiring and
tweaks to the cabinet’s internal bracing.
Further revisions see a change from the
original soft-dome tweeter to a new
magnesium-alloy dome that extends the
treble to a claimed 53kHz. Tannoy has
always experimented with material
around the crossover’s capacitators to
dampen high frequencies, and further
enhancements have been made here to
improve treble response. So, despite
initial appearances, a fairly substantial
makeover after all, then.
In keeping with their predecessors,
the V1is balance a mature sound with a
robust, solid presentation. The midrange
is clearer than the V1s’ and, with the
gutsy bass, takes the heavy momentum
of Muse’s Unnatural Selection in its
stride. Playing a live recording of Guns N’
Roses’ Paradise City the electric guitar
riffs pull with a sense of openness, as do
the vocals.
We switch to something solely
instrumental: Hans Zimmer’s Harvey-
Two-Face from The Dark Knight OST is
something of a triumph when the
Tannoys’ mid/bass drivers build up to
climactic moments with vigour. Detailed
and dynamically fluid, the V1is give
more subtle strands of music a fair
amount of scrutiny too.
Take a bit of care with positioning
The bass has a tendency to thump
overbearingly when the speakers are
placed too close to a wall. Pull them out
about 50cm, though, and there’s a more
stable balance between weight and focus.
We’re more than satisfied with the low
frequencies (given the right placement),
but the treble can come across as
speakers SUPERtESt
unsubtle, which is an obstacle to easy They look similar to
listening. We ran them in for a week in their V1 forebears, but
the hope it might help things, but the the V1is have benefted
sharpness of the bell in Carmen’s Les from many changes
Toreador still sticks out like a sore thumb.
The V1s opted for a calculated, polished
delivery over absolute punch and attack,
and the V1is follow in those footsteps.
We’re entertained by most music we
played, but we do pine for a hard- booted
kick during Led Zeppelin’s Remasters.
Do the Tannoys have what it takes to
run with the big dogs? In a nutshell, yes.
A combination of good detail, slick
dynamics and self-assured presentation
make the V1is highly desirable, smart
standmounters. Given a sweeter treble
and perhaps a bit more drive, we’d be
looking at a true chart-topper.
Rating ★★★ ★ ★
FOR Solid presentation; detailed, clear sound;
dynamically expressive; sturdy bass; finish
AgAinst Fussy with placement; treble;
a lack of finesse
VeRdict Stylish speakers that add a likeable
sound to their resume – well worth auditioning
www.whathif.com 37

Yamaha NSBP182 £100
★★★ ★ ★
Yamaha seems to have looked at the
budget speaker market and thrown an
absolute bargain into the mix with the
NSBP182s. Born as part of Yamaha’s
MCR-N560 (£500) micro-component
system, they are available separately for
a fifth of the system’s price.
And we’re impressed at how they fare
compared to the build and look of more
expensive rivals. We like the neat trim
and stark contrast of the white 12cm-
cone woofer and black 3cm soft-dome
tweeter on this black pair (white and
brown are also available). And the glossy
plastic cabinets with sleek edges on the
baffle make them stylish shelf-sitters.
They are lightweight, and have three
attached feet so should stand firm on a
surface whether it be stand or shelf.
A very enthusiastic musical attack
As if cut from the same cloth as the Roth
OLi RA2’s, their raring-to-go eagerness
manifests itself from the first track we
listen to, Joss Stone’s Super Duper Love.
The track moves along at a rate of knots
and doesn’t come up for air until the
very last snare hit. The Yamahas
certainly make a big impression, with
vocals focused centre-stage. Detail
isn’t in short supply and the bass is
prominent, if a little thick –it allies with
the rest of the frequency spectrum to
make a rhythmically coherent sound.
There’s enough bass when the speakers
sit 20cm or so from a wall, but if you’re
inclined towards lots of bass and don’t
mind sacrificing a bit of vocal clarity and
projection, putting them up against a
wall or on a shelf isn’t too harmful.
A stridency to higher frequencies
Ultimately a brash treble is what lets
things down. It’s like an itch you can’t
scratch: distracting. Heavier tracks seem
jumbled and hard to listen to, especially
at high volumes. We ran the Yamahas in
for ages after a 72-hour pre-run and first
listen, but things didn’t improve much.
The combination of that hard treble
and fiery temperament doesn’t leave
much room for smoothness or warmth
to the sound. Instead, music feels a little
scratchy and thin, and we would like
more civility with softer tracks.
Despite vocals emerging clearly,
by and large transparency is lacking.
Instruments in Feast of Starlight
speakers SUPERtESt
from The Hobbit soundtrack sound The Yamahas, available
muddy and ill-defined. in black, white or
For the affordable price, though, it’s brown fnishes, look
hard to be too disappointed. If you have far pricier than £100
a £100 budget and no more, you’ll get a
nice looker and reap the benefits of
vocal clarity, good detail, cohesion
and great enthusiasm.
But, though they are cheaper than all
direct rivals at this price point, on their
own terms the Yamaha NSBP182s
encounter too many stumbling blocks
to be fully vouched for. Their bright
treble and thin sound defy easy
listening and make them too choosy
with musical genres.
If you can stretch your budget by £30
you will do better in terms of clarity,
refinement and balance.
Rating ★★★ ★ ★
FOR Price; enthusiastic, passionate sound;
detail; cohesion
AgAinst Off-puttingly hard treble and an
occasionally muddy, ill-defined and thin sound
VeRdict Attractively price, but they are too
flawed to earn our recommendation
www.whathif.com 39
 test VerDICt
the WInner
Q Acoustic 2020is
£170 ★★★★★
They won our Award for a reason, and to prove it, the Q Acoustics 2020is have
romped home with the winner’s laurels in this shootout against some strong rivals
E
veryone likes a controversy, but
we can’t say we’re massively
surprised to find that there’s none
to be had here. Our current Award-
winner Q Acoustic 2020is have it in the
bag yet again, avoiding an early upset
and outshining the Dalis in a grudge
match the Danes will be sick of by now.
Both veterans battled it out and
retained their five-star titles with flying
colours. But – as just months before in
the Awards race – the 2020is raise their
game with a few more grains of detail
and extra bite. A £30 price difference
works in their favour too if you don’t
mind overlooking the (considerably)
pricier gloss finishes.
A feisty four-star tussle
The newer entries are all outperformed,
then, but they still manage to plant
themselves in an even more feisty
four-star tussle. It’s hard to resolve
head-to-head match-ups here, as each
pair can tug and barge with its own
plus-points and pitfalls.
The insight and precision from the
Pioneer S-CN301-LRs is second-to-none
40 www.whathif.com
but lacks drive from an uncooperative showed promising signs of achieving
bass. The Tannoy V1i’s mostly well- good-value status. But the one-
rounded presentation makes them big dimensional forwardness to the sound
contenders, though suffers a similar fate means that, despite that appealing
when it comes to drive. The Cambridge price, the Yamahas can’t be the bargain
Audio SX-50s’ lashings of joie de vivre buy they set out to be.
mean they’re not far off five stars either The OLi RA2s showed similar
– they just lack the impressive dynamic ambition with sleek design, but also fall
finesse of the Dalis and Q Acoustics. at the fundamental hurdle that is sound,
This test has revealed some multi-talented speakers.
Achieving high rank in the budget speaker category has
proved tricky; choosing between them could be more so
We’d be more than happy sharing a turning their back on versatility for a
long Sunday afternoon of music full-throttle thrill-ride.
listening with any of the three. In a dog-eat-dog world, neither quite
Factoring in personal preference will makes the grade, swept up as they are by
decide your purchase – as will your a host of more multi-talented speakers.
purse strings if you’re leaning towards
the Pioneers, which hit the ceiling of Multi-talented, budget bargains
this test’s price range. And that’s what this test brings to light:
That leaves the Yamaha NSBP182s multi-talented speakers. Achieving high
and Roth OLi RA2s bringing up the rear. rank in the budget speaker category has
The NSBP182’s price will, of course, proved tricky. Depending on your needs,
instantly appeal and their decent build choosing between them could be more so.
 speakers supertest

Cambridge Audio SX-50 Dali Zensor 1 Pioneer S-CN301-LR Q Acoustics 2020i

£130 ★★★★ £200 ★★★★★ £200 ★★★★ £170 ★★★★★
• Sensitivity 90dB/W/m • • Sensitivity 86.5dB/W/m • • Sensitivity 81dB/W/m • • Sensitivity 88dB/W/m •
Impedance 8 ohms Impedance 6 ohms Impedance 6 ohms Impedance 6 ohms
• Max power handling 100W • • Max power handling 100W • • Max power handling 100W • • Max power handling 75W •
Biwirable No Biwirable No Biwirable No Biwirable Yes
• Finishes 2 • • Finishes 2 • • Finishes 1 • • Finishes 4 •
Dimensions (hwd) 23 x 16 x 24cm Dimensions (hwd) 27 x 16 x 22cm Dimensions (hwd) 23 x 14 x 22cm Dimensions (hwd) 26 x 17 x 28cm

Sound Sound Sound Sound

Compatibility Compatibility Compatibility Compatibility
Build Build Build Build

Where to put theM?

Some speakers sound better with
a bit of room around them, while
others can lack authority or feel
lost unless backed against a rear
wall. Make sure you buy speakers
you can cater for. Even the best in
this test won’t fulfl their potential
if placed inappropriately.

Roth OLi RA2 Tannoy Mercury V1i Yamaha NSBP182

What to put theM on?
£150 ★★★ £150 ★★★★ £100 ★★★
• Sensitivity 84dB/W/m • • Sensitivity 86dB/W/m • • Sensitivity 83dB/W/m • You may be tempted to sit your
Impedance 6 ohms Impedance 8 ohms Impedance 6 ohms small speakers on a shelf for
• Max power handling 65W • • Max power handling 100W • • Max power handling 110W • convenience, but if it’s at all
Biwirable No Biwirable No Biwirable No possible we’d urge you to use
• Finishes 1 • • Finishes 2 • • Finishes 3 • stands. They are far more likely to
Dimensions (hwd) 29 x 18 x 21cm Dimensions (hwd) 30 x 17 x 26cm Dimensions (hwd) 28 x 16 x 23cm give good results. You should
budget around £70 for a decent
pair, such as the Soundstyle Z2s or
Sound Sound Sound
Atacama Nexus 6s.
Compatibility Compatibility Compatibility
Build Build Build

sYsteM BuILDer

CD player Amplifier Smartphone

Marantz CD6005 NAD D3020 HTC One
£350 ★★★★★ £400 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
A fantastic CD player – and simply Best stereo amp in our Awards 2013, Our favourite smartphone at the
immense value for money and a potential game changer moment does everything well

www.whathif.com 41
 Sony and Astell & Kern are
leading the way in the
drive to bring high-res
audio into the mainstream

42 www.whathif.com
 HigH-res audio players TesT

Join us on Spotify
whf.cm/playlist2014
Listen to our favourite tracks every month!

REVOLUTION
Change is in the air. The demand for quality sound is challenging the old order of
‘covenience first’ as high-resolution music files grow in popularity. We explore the trend
and audition hardware from two of the leading forces in high-res audio

T
his year is shaping up to be the
one in which high-resolution
audio (HRA) takes off. Both Astell
& Kern and Sony were among those to
showcase high-resolution audio products
at CES 2014 (the enormous consumer
electronics show held each January in
Las Vegas), while several download sites
now offer better-than-CD quality music
files. HRA also has the support of many
major labels and musicians.
What qualifies as high-res?
Unlike high-definition video, there’s no
universal standard for high-res audio.
The term tends, though, to refer to audio
that has a higher sampling frequency
and/or bit depth than CD (which is
16-bit/44.1kHz).
High-resolution audio files usually
use a sampling frequency (the number
of times per second that samples of the
music are taken) of 96kHz or 192kHz at
24-bit, but you can also have 44.1kHz
and 176.4kHz files too. The more bits
there are, the more accurately the signal
can be measured.
There are several high-resolution
audio file formats, including FLAC (Free
Lossless Audio Codec) and ALAC (Apple
Lossless Audio Codec), both of which are
packaged but in a way in which (in
theory) no information is lost.
To grasp how much better high-res
audio files can be, compared with MP3,
remember that the highest-quality MP3
has a bitrate of 320kbps, whereas a
24-bit/192kHz file is transferred at a rate
of 9216kbps and music CDs are
transferred at 1411kbps.
With more information to play with,
high-resolution audio is able to boast
greater detail and texture, bringing
listeners closer to the original
performance than ever before.
There are currently only a handful of
UK download stores, but new services
are rumoured to be launching in 2014.
Earlier this year Sony, along with Warner
and Universal, announced it will make
its extensive music catalogues available
to high-res download services – all of
which will be a real shot in the arm for
fans of high-resolution audio.
Sony and Astell & Kern
Sony is at the forefront of those pushing
for high-resolution audio, having
recently announced a complete new
range of HRA products. Astell & Kern,
meanwhile, has the AK240 portable
audio player to back up the AK100 Mk II.
Devotees of high-res audio will be
pleased to learn that the Consumer
Electronics Association (CEA) is right
behind HRA: “Market trends and research
indicates consumers are poised to
embrace high-resolution audio,” said CEA
President and CEO Gary Shapiro recently.
Convenience might still dominate, but
high-res audio is on the up, and to usher
in the era we have our first two portable
high-res audio players: the Sony NWZ-ZX1
and the Astell & Kern AK100 MkII. With
the market still young, the two brands
have gone for drastically different ideas.
Last month we declared the Sony to be the
best-sounding portable music player we
had ever reviewed, but the A&K arrived
hot on its heels, armed with expandable
memory and greater file compatibility.
This is going to be a tough fight.

With more information to play with, high-resolution audio is able

to boast greater detail and texture, bringing listeners closer to
the original performance than ever before

For more news, reviews and

buying advice, visit whathif.com

www.whathif.com 43
AK100 MkII £800 ★★★★
Astell & Kern is a brand of portable
high-res audio players from Korean
company iriver (previously iRiver). The
AK100 MkII is the entry-level model,
and its party tricks include expandable
storage and support for DSD files.
Next to the Sony NWZ-ZX1’s brass
cylinder and protruding back, the A&K
actually looks a bit dull. Only the physical
controls stand out: playback buttons on
the left edge and a volume knob on the
right. This dial rotates with satisfying
clicks, but is a bit wobbly. It’s also likely
to catch on the fabric in your pocket and
change volume. There’s a volume lock
option within the menus, but if you use
it you’ll have to turn the screen on every
time you want to adjust the volume.
Screen and storage
There’s a 2.5in capacitive touchscreen
with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. It’s
big enough to navigate the system, but a
bigger screen wouldn’t hurt – it feels
cramped against the Sony’s 4in offering.
There is 32GB of storage on board, but
you can add more. A small door on the
bottom edge slides open to reveal two
microSD slots. Official literature says the
device is compatible with cards up to
32GB, but 64GB ones work if you format
them using FAT32. That means you
can have a maximum storage of
160GB at any time.
We’re disappointed the starting
storage space isn’t a little more generous,
because unless you have a tiny high-res
audio collection you will need more
than 32GB. The Sony is maxed out at
128GB, but that’s all built-in and
available out of the box.
File support is very good: the AK100
MkII can handle WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3,
OGG, AAC, ALAC and AIFF. Unlike the
Sony, the A&K is ‘DSD-capable’, which
means it can also handle DSD64 files,
altough it doesn’t actually play them
natively – it converts them to PCM.
Speed is not of the essence
Touch an on-screen button and it can be
unresponsive at first, only to react when
you repeat the action – propelling you
forward through a couple of menus.
Faster microSD cards struggle less, but
it’s worth noting these issues occurred
even with a Class 10 (very fast) card.
Even when not playing DSD files,
operation never feels particularly
snappy. Scrolling is never smooth, and
44 www.whathif.com
★
there tends to be a slight delay between
a single tap and the corresponding
reaction. Going from menu to album usIng
selection to track selection and back, it’s the A&K
not unusual to glimpse a countdown. It’s Wh
ile the Sony has a
not problematic, but it is noticeable and protruding base, the Ast
ell &
easily outpaced by the Sony’s Android Kern has a protruding vol
ume
4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. control. It’s easy to use but
can just
Thankfully the interface is as easily catch on the fab
ric in your
straightforward and doesn’t have too pocket and change the vol
ume
many pages to wade through. The home when you least expect it.
Best
screen has a settings button and six to lock the volume level
via
boxes: Songs, Genres, Albums, Artists, the touchscreen.
Folders and Master Quality Sound,
where you’ll find all your high-res tracks
laid out alphabetically. It’s all very basic,
but at least you’ll never get lost.
The journey from start-up to music
playback isn’t flawless, but start listening
and you’ll soon stop caring. The AK100
MkII is a very talented performer. It has
an alluringly warm, smooth sound
signature. There’s a good degree of tonal
balance too, and the listening experience
feels completely natural.
Rhythmically it loses out to the Sony,
but it makes up for that with a stunning
midrange. Here you get far-reaching,
fluid dynamics that really complement
vocal-based tracks. Load up Lorde’s Pure
Heroine and her voice is direct, organic
and full of life. Combine that with bags
of detail and the A&K is right up there
with the Sony as one of the best-
sounding portable high-res music
players we’ve heard.
Pros and cons
We’re very impressed with the Astell &
Kern AK100 MkII, but there are issues.
It’s really expensive, and that’s not an
easy price tag to swallow considering the
need to spend yet more on memory
cards (unless you’re happy with a paltry
32GB). We’re pleased to see DSD support,
but that’s ofset by the sluggish interface.
It’s a shame, because we really like
that audio performance. Overall it’s a
good effort from A&K, but one which
leaves room for improvement.
Rating ★★★★ ★
FOR Fluid, dynamic midrange; plenty of detail;
fluid presentation; mostly good build
AgAinst Expensive; wobbly volume dial;
sluggish interface; only 32GB on board It might not have the
Sony’s looks, but the A&K
VeRdict A seriously talented performer that
has a sweetness to its
has a few design issues
midrange that’s all its own
 HigH-res audio players test
A responsive interface
and an ergonomically
sound design serve to
further the Sony’s case
nWZ-ZX1 £550 ★★★★
Sony’s first crack at a premium portable
high-res audio player is a stunner. After
we first reviewed the NWZ-ZX1 last
month, we called it the best-sounding
portable player we had ever reviewed.
But with the Astell & Kern AK100 MkII
hot on its heels, does Sony have what it
takes to stay on top?
On unboxing, the Sony immediately
makes a stronger impression than the
A&K. We’re big fans of the ZX1’s
aesthetics: it is a striking design with a
frame of aluminium, a face of glass and
a back of leather-feel rubber.
Its shape is unusual. The
asymmetrical bottom edge has a 3.5mm
headphone jack masquerading as a
cylinder of brass. The device’s back
protrudes a little towards the bottom to
accommodate a bigger amplifier block.
Whether by accident or design, this
protrusion allows the device to fit more
naturally in the palm, making it easier to
handle. In contrast, the A&K’s chunky
black block design not only loses on
aesthetics but also on ergonomics.
Under control
In terms of physical controls, the ZX1
offers a single line of keys on its right
edge. This is less adventurous than a
volume dial, but it’s also less fussy. The
system is easy to navigate thanks to its
4in screen, which feels expansive next
to the A&K’s 2.5in offering.
It also helps that the Sony is a
responsive device. The Android 4.1 Jelly
Bean interface is predictable but safe; it
doesn’t zoom along like some high-
powered superphones, but it has good
reflexes. Apps from the Google Play
store work as well as they do on other
Android devices. Skipping between
high-res tracks is never an issue.
Speaking of which, the ZX1 will
accommodate roughly 60 high-res
albums. Its 128GB storage is not
usIng expandable. Is that enough? Are there
the sos n y 60 high-res albums worth having yet?
a basic,
The Sony follow That’s down to the individual, but not
except
slim-smartphone design including a memory card slot feels like
par t of the device an oversight. At least you get the full
that the bottom
es asy mm etricall y. Thi s bulge capacity out of the box, with no promise
protrud
blo ck, and of further expense. That’s a lot better
houses the amplifer
mig ht loo k a little odd than the A&K, which more or less
although it
at frst glance, it actually demands you feed it memory cards.
makes the NWZ-ZX1 Then there’s the matter of file
easier to hold. compatibility. The ZX1 can handle MP3,
WMA, ATRAC, ATRAC Advanced
Lossless, WAV, AAC, HE-AAC, FLAC,
★
Apple Lossless and AIFF formats. That
sounds fairly comprehensive, but the
lack of DSD support means A&K takes
this round.
When it comes to sound quality, the
Sony holds its own very well. There are
layers of fine detail working within a
wide, well-organised soundstage. It’s a
tonally balanced presentation but the
articulate, hard-hitting bass deserves a
special mention.
Right on time
What really impresses us is the Sony’s
sense of timing. It never loses its footing,
stopping and starting with astonishing
precision on even the most rhythmically
challenging tracks.
Some might say that such a high level
of precision hampers the enjoyment of
the music. Indeed, the performance feels
very measured and never quite lets loose.
It’s neck and neck with the A&K on
this front. Both have plenty of detail.
Both offer a balanced presentation. The
Sony sounds a little more spacious and a
lot more precise, but the A&K has that
lovely, lively midrange. We’re happy to
call this one a tie.
Our first portable high-res audio
bust-up is over. So who takes the crown?
The A&K manages an early lead with
expandable memory and DSD
compatibility. But then Sony catches up:
the ZX1 offers a better user experience
thanks in no small measure to a more
ergonomic design, a larger screen and
a slicker, more responsive interface.
Paying the price
Then there’s the significant price
difference to consider. The A&K costs
£250 more – £330 more if you factor in
average prices for the memory cards
needed to reach full capacity.
That’s not a price we’re quite willing
to pay, particularly when the two devices
are well matched in audio quality. For
our money, it’s the Sony NWZ-ZX1 that
we’d take home.
Rating ★★★★ ★
FOR Seriously good sound with layers of detail,
great timing and strong dynamics; lovely design
AgAinst No expandable memory or DSD
support, which is a shame at this price
VeRdict It’s not without its flaws but this
Sony is better value for money than its rival
www.whathif.com 45
 e re fr o m ? O u r g u id e to online
…but wh se rvices tells you
m u si c -str e a m ing

M
usic piracy had a chokehold on the music industry
in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, with the emergence of
peer-to-peer and torrent services making it easier
than ever to illegally share music with people across the world.
Millions were doing it every day, and the music industry had no
idea how to stop it.
Then along came streaming services that gave you instant
access to millions of tracks for the cost of an album every
month or, in some cases, even for free. No download times, no
virus risks and, above all, legitimate. Suddenly piracy didn’t
make much sense any more.
Services such as Deezer and Spotify led the way in 2007 and
2008 respectively, and were followed by a host of others, each
trying to bring something new to entice users.
Ad-supported free models were popular in the early days
before many services reverted to paid-only subscriptions in an
attempt to turn a proft. Even the biggest services are still trying
to balance the books several years after their launch, but then
no-one said revolutionising the way we consume our music
was going to be easy.
The age of expansion
What started out only on computers soon spread to mobiles
and tablets, and can now be found on everything from TVs and
games consoles to in-car audio systems. Music streaming, it
seems, is well and truly here to stay.
But with so many services now available to choose from,
where is your £10 a month best spent? We looked at 11 of
the major players, discounting radio-based services such as
Last.fm, and instead concentrating on the main subscription-
based on-demand streaming options. Read on for the ultimate
guide to UK streaming services.

Catalogue choice To test each service’s catalogue we took a cross-section of

10 favourite albums from the What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision team. They were:

Beyoncé Beyoncé • Can Tago Mago • The Eagles Hotel California • Goldie Timeless •
Led Zeppelin IV • Lupe Fiasco The Cool • Stevie Wonder Innervisions •
The Libertines Up The Bracket • The Verve Urban Hymns • Tom Waits Closing Time

For a full list of specifcations and

other useful info visit whathif.com

46 www.whathif.com
STREAMING SERvIcES TEST

OS key

www.whathif.com 47
While Spotify’s exclusives are hard
to ignore, Deezer does have the
edge when it comes to interface
While Spotify might be recognised as
one of the first streaming services to hit
the mainstream, the brains behind
French company Deezer were working
on the idea as much as two years earlier.
But it took two more years after its
launch in 2007 for Deezer to sign deals
with all the major labels. It was only
then that its expansion into a streaming
service to be reckoned with really began.
Widely available
With availability in 182 countries, its
reach is huge, and more than triple that
of its nearest competitor, Spotify, which
is available in 55. Its platform availability
is similarly extensive, and you’d struggle
to find a device it’s not available on.
The experience across web and app is
largely the same, and all versions we
tested were well designed and easy to
use. We did find the ‘Hear This’ tab,
which ofers up useful playlist and album
suggestions, is nowhere to be found on
the iPad app, which is a shame. It’s an
odd omission too, since it appears in the
iPhone app, and on Android versions.
We found most other features were
available across the board though,
including extensive genre filters, a
section for chart lists and new releases,
and one for radio stations. Albums and
artists can be ‘favourited’ for quick access
later and playlists easily built on the fly.
48 www.whathif.com
Deezer
from £free ★★★★★
SUBSCRIPTION It’s probably not got quite the breadth
OPTIONS or quality of apps that Spotify has just
■ Premium, for yet but, of those it does have, some of
£9.99/month our favourites include Deezer Sessions,
(£4.99 for frst six videos of exclusive live music sessions;
months); ad-free Deezer By… showcasing playlists and
streaming and track suggestions; and Spotizr, which
ofine playback. replicates your Spotify playlists in Deezer.
■ Web-only for
£4.99/month. The social network
■ Discovery Social features on Deezer are a big part
option – unlimited of the service, and you’re able to find
ad-supported friends on it by linking up your Twitter,
playback for 12 Facebook and Google + accounts.
months, then And, in case you were still not quite
limited to two sure whether Deezer and Spotify have
hours per month. been keeping a close eye on each other,
Platforms + Apps
Platform support is hard to fault, with apps
available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone,
BlackBerry and Symbian. You’ll fnd it on most
smart TV services, AV equipment from Sonos,
Logitech and Jambox, Xbox 360s and in BMWs,
Minis and Parrot in-car systems. A desktop app
is available for Windows 8, or you can listen
through your web browser instead.
Catalogue
Size 30,000,000 Our picks 9/10
Deezer’s huge catalogue exceeds Spotify’s by a cool 10 million and is
currently the largest of any available streaming service.
Deezer also offers the ability to add local
tracks by uploading them into the ‘My
MP3s’ section, after which they are
synced immediately for playback across
all your other devices. Handy stuff.
Deezer offers 320kbps playback to
Premium users and, unsurprisingly, its
performance is very similar to its Big
Green Rival. Critical ears will hear that a
similarly hard edge is evident on more
transparent equipment, sounding just a
touch harsh compared with something
like Sony and Napster, which have a
more refined character.
It’s hard not to look at Deezer and
compare it with Spotify. Their features
are so similar that, in many ways, there’s
very little to separate them. But while
Spotify’s exclusives are hard to ignore,
Deezer has the edge on interface and
pure catalogue size. What’s more, its
clever half-price Premium subscription
offer could well be the key to pulling in
any users who are sitting on the fence.
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Well designed; well-implemented social
features; largest catalogue; local MP3 syncing
AGAINST Slightly harsh-sounding
VERDICT If you can live without Spotify’s
exclusive catalogue, Deezer offers a lot to like
at a competitive introductory price

You can force high-quality playback,
and the result is one of our favourite-
sounding streaming services
Google Play Music All Access
It’s no secret that Google has its fingers
in a lot of pies. From search engines and
maps to email and mobile operating
systems, it has tried its hand at most
things and scored a pretty high success
rate in the process. Perhaps
unsurprisingly, then, its music service
looks pretty promising too.
Launched less than a year ago, Google
Play Music All Access was originally
Android and web-only until its iOS app
launched in November 2013. It offers
just one level of subscription at £9.99
a month, which offers unlimited
streaming, smart recommendations and
a personalised radio station.
Music playback through your laptop is
handled via a web-based app. It’s little
more than a page within Google Play
that allows you to search for music using
the usual search box.
Useful features
Listen Now highlights albums recently
played so you can pick up where you left
off easily, while Explore is where you’ll
find playlists and recommendations.
There’s a nice feature called ‘I’m
feeling lucky radio’ that piles together
tracks based on your previous listening
– and it’s good, having plenty of variety.
Google Music is able to scan your
library and match it with music from
within the service, simply uploading any
£9.99/month ★★★★ ★
SUBSCRIPTION that it’s missing. You can do this with up
OPTIONS to a generous 20,000 tracks. You’ll use
■ Just one; Google’s Music Manager desktop
£9.99/month for software to do this, with the benefit that
unlimited all that music stored on your laptop is
streaming, then available across your smartphone
personalised radio and tablet too.
and ofine Some 18 million tracks are available
listening. You can for streaming and offline listening on up
upload 20,000 of to four devices, with the bonus that you
your own songs can buy albums or individual tracks
into Google Music directly from Google Music. These will
for free if you want playback at a guaranteed 320kbps, while
to take your laptop streaming can be variable. You can force
library mobile. high-quality playback via the apps,
though, and the result is one of our
favourite-sounding streaming services.
Platforms + Apps
Windows Phone and BlackBerry users are out of
luck for now, as are iPad users, who will have to
make do with using a blown-up iPhone app, which
doesn’t look the nicest. If you’re looking for a
streaming service mainly for use on your Apple
tablet, this is certainly something to consider.
Android tablets, on the other hand, get the
custom-design privilege.
Catalogue
Size 18,000,000 Our picks 9/10
Google’s catalogue is pretty bulletproof, save for the absence of Led Zep.
Of course, Google Play does give you the option to buy instead.
STREAMING SERVICES TEST
It’s got the subtlety to give real insight
into a track, with more detail than at
lower bitrates. A touch bright perhaps,
but it sounds good – only really topped
by the FLAC-packing Qobuz.
There are some niggles though. Web
playback can be patchy and its platform
compatibility is relatively low.
Less than all access
Also, if social features are important
to you, you may feel short-changed. All
Access won’t allow you to share your
music on the biggest social networks,
restricting you to Google +. This feels
shortsighted, and lessens the feeling of
community you get with other services.
And so we’re torn. Google Play Music
All Access sounds great and packs some
real USPs, but is let down by fixable
issues that make up a large part of a
successful streaming service. Google,
loosen the reins a bit. Then maybe we
can talk about that fifth star.
Rating ★★★★ ★
FOR Subtle, detailed sound; library matching
up to 20,000 songs; great radio feature
AGAINST Social sharing limited to Google +;
limited platform support
VERDICT Getting a big thumbs-up for music
quality, but we’d like more in other key areas
www.whathif.com 49
TEST STREAMING SERVICES
Napster has worked to make music
discovery a big part of the service –
the Featured tab is well worth a visit
Before them all, there was Napster.
Originally a peer-to-peer free file-sharing
service, and one of the first of its kind,
it’s fair to say it didn’t make too many
friends in the music industry, upsetting
everyone from Dr Dre to Metallica in just
two short years. It bowed out of the
public eye after a sea of copyright
lawsuits and injunctions pushed it
into bankruptcy in 2001.
Now, it’s gone legit. Bought by US
music-streaming service Rhapsody in
2011, all that connects Napster now with
Napster then is its name and logo. It
offers two paid-for subscription options
only – there’s no ad-based free option
here – both offering access to the
service’s 20-million strong catalogue.
Journey of discovery
Napster has worked hard to make music
discovery a big part of its service. While
you can browse through genres or search
directly for songs and albums you like,
the Featured tab is always well worth a
visit. Here you’ll find snappy editorial
content from Napster’s music experts
supporting playlists based around new
music or eras, as well as new album picks.
You’re also able to follow friends and
other users on the service for further
discovery. Of course, if you’d prefer to
keep your secret Taylor Swift addiction
under wraps, you can opt for a private
50 www.whathif.com
Napster
from £5/month ★★★★ ★
SUBSCRIPTION profile in the settings menu, which
OPTIONS means you won’t be searchable.
■ Napster Its artist radio allows you to customise
Unlimited at £5/ the variety and popularity of tracks that
month, which make it into your station, or create a
works solely on station based on an individual track or
a laptop online. genre. There’s a handful of video content,
■ Napster though it’s not as established as Deezer.
Unlimited Plus
Mobile adds Device-specific interface
ofine playback Napster’s interface is easy to use across
and compatibility platforms. It’s simple enough for the
with other devices small screen of a mobile, while the iPad
for £10/month. gets a big-on-visuals, tablet-specific app.
There’s currently What lets all this goodness down is
a 30-day free trial the streaming bitrate, which tops out at
on both.
Platforms + Apps
Android and iOS are taken care of in both mobile
and tablet forms, plus there’s a web app for use
on computers. Sonos includes Napster in its
multi-room streaming options, plus other kit
such as Yamaha AV receivers and Xbox 360 have
Napster functionality built in too. Windows
Phone and BlackBerry users will have to go
elsewhere for now.
Catalogue
Size 20,000,000 Our picks 9/10
The Napster catalogue is hard to fault, but it too fell foul of Spotify’s Led
Zeppelin exclusive like the other services on test.
192kbps for tracks streamed via mobile
apps and played offline, dropping to
128kbps for those on your laptop and
64kbps for those not available in high
quality (though we didn’t come across
any of these during testing).
Despite its on-paper fate looking grim,
Napster still manages to sound
competitive, even against the higher
bitrates on test. Detail levels didn’t
sound hugely different compared with
a 320kbps stream from Deezer, but it’s a
softer, more rounded-off sound in
comparison. It steers clear of brightness
in the treble, which makes it a fine
companion for long listening sessions.
Napster looks great and is a good
choice for those who like some context
to their music. Its sound, despite faring
better than expected, still falls behind
the market leaders, and when its pricing
structure is the same, there’s not much
excuse for it. Get it sounding as good as
it looks and it could be a real contender.
Rating ★★★★ ★
FOR Great catalogue; strong design and
platform support; keen editorial vibe; brilliant
social features; good for music discovery
AGAINST 192kbps playback could sound better
VERDICT A joy to use and discover music
through, but its sound quality falls short

Music sounds bigger and more
spacious, with stacks more detail
and subtlety across the board
Qobuz was first launched in 2007 and
was relatively unknown outside its
home country of France until December
2013, when it arrived in the UK. With its
16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC-quality streams, its
big aim is to kick lesser-bitrated services
where it hurts – playback quality –
setting its subscriber sights firmly on
those who value that above all else.
Of course, you’ll have to pay for the
privilege, with the ‘Qobuz Hi-Fi’ FLAC-
quality subscription costing £19.99 per
month – double that of most other
services. The good news is that it does
sound head and shoulders above its
nearest rival when it comes to out-and-
out sound quality – and it shapes up
pretty well in other areas too.
Stages of growth
Platform support is admirable, though
its catalogue is still growing – so you may
have favourites missing. We find the
search function to be temperamental
too, not finding tracks when searched for
by name, which we later manage to
uncover by searching by artist. It’s
perhaps no wonder when the catalogue
feels like it could do with some better
organisation; a search for Beyonce serves
up 72 different artist listings.
You’ll also find that, for now at least,
Qobuz’s roots across the Channel are not
far from the surface, with playlists and
Qobuz
from £19.99/month for FLAC playback ★★★★★
SUBSCRIPTION recommendations often heavily
OPTIONS influenced by French artists, and the
■ FLAC-quality odd bit of French text cropping up here
playback at and there too. It could take some time
£19.99/month. for these kinks to iron out.
■ Guaranteed Music discovery isn’t a strong point of
320kbps service the service either. The homepage on the
for £9.99/month web or desktop app presents you with a
(£4.99/month for display of artists to try out, but for no
web and desktop) reason – they aren’t tailored to your
only playback. musical taste or streaming history.
■ Classical only
with FLAC-quality Quality where it counts
catalogue for But these are things many will put up
£14.99/month. with for the sound quality Qobuz offers.
It is good. Music sounds bigger and more
spacious than elsewhere, with stacks
Platforms + Apps
Platform support is pretty extensive, with both
phone and tablet apps developed for iOS and
Android. Qobuz is also available as an app on
Windows 8 devices, and there’s web and
desktop support, as well as playback through
Sonos speakers. An English language Kindle
app is in the pipeline too.
Catalogue
Size 14,000,000 Our picks 6/10
Much better than it used to be, but it fell short on our picks, and didn’t
have the Beyonce album, The Libertines, Lupe Fiasco or Led Zeppelin.
STREAMING SERVICES TEST
more detail and subtlety across the
board. There’s texture to vocals that goes
unheard on other services, and it does a
better job of communicating the quieter
moments in music and contrasting them
with louder ones. It’s an accomplished
performance that immediately shows up
lower bitrate services, uncovering details
you probably didn’t even know you were
missing – but could now struggle to go
without.
And so despite some new service
grumbles, we find that’s ultimately what
counts here. Qobuz should be applauded
for pushing high-quality streaming in a
market that seems happy to rest on its
320kbps laurels, and doing something
that no one else is.
Sure, it’s pricey. But this is the closest
to hi-fi quality streaming we’ve ever
heard, and to many, that will be worth
the higher price tag. If you’re looking for
the best streaming quality money can
buy, this is it.
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Superior sound quality; good
platform support
AGAINST Some functionality niggles; no
personalised music discovery; expensive
VERDICT You might suffer a few app grumbles
but you won’t get better-sounding streaming
www.whathif.com 53
Rdio has gained praise for its well
designed, easy-to-use interface,
and it’s easy to understand why
Born from the same brains that
dreamed up Skype in years previous,
Rdio had quite the act to follow when it
launched in 2010, a small unknown in a
growing market of heavyweights.
Now in a bigger, more competitive
market than ever, Rdio knows it has
some work to do to prove its staying
power, but with a new CEO at its helm
and availability across a competitive 35
countries, it’s up for the challenge.
Ad-free approach
Its core aims are said to follow the same
principles Skype was built upon – that it
must be ad-free and reliable. As such,
there’s no ‘freemium’ option currently
available in the UK (though it is being
trialled in the US and Australia), with
monthly subscriptions starting at £4.99.
Rdio has gained praise for its well
designed, easy-to-use interface, and it’s
easy to understand why. Whether you’re
using the web, desktop, tablet or mobile
app, it’s a very similar experience, with
all albums up for selection appearing in a
grid-like format, rather than a more visual
magazine-style design. Mobile apps
steer away from being too flashy too
and, as ever, the specifc iPad-designed
app makes for a good tablet experience.
Content is found under two headings;
Browse or Your Music, with the latter
holding your playlists, listening history
54 www.whathif.com
Rdio
from £4.99/month ★★★★ ★
SUBSCRIPTION and ‘collection’ – the place you can store
OPTIONS albums, tracks and artists you like.
■ Web-only, for Browse is the place to go for music
£4.99/month. discovery, with the top album picks and
■ Unlimited, new releases as you might expect, plus a
which is the full section called Heavy Rotation, which
version, available highlights popular music from the
across devices and people you follow. You can find friends
with ofine by plugging in your Facebook and
listening, for £9.99. Twitter details.
■ Family subs Rdio offer streams at up to 192kbps for
are available; web streaming and over mobile wi-fi,
£17.99 for two and a rate between 96kbps and 192kbps
unlimited over mobile data connections. You can
accounts, £22.99 opt for data streams always to be at the
for three. highest possible quality but be aware
this will use up more data.
Platforms + Apps
Rdio has a competitive app selection,
ofering iOS, Android, BlackBerry and
Windows Phone apps, plus a specifc
iPad-designed version. Android tablets
are left out for now. Laptop users can use
Rdio in both its web or desktop application,
while Sonos and Roku users can stream
directly through their devices too.
Catalogue
Size 20,000,000 Our picks 9/10
Nothing to complain about here. Rdio found every single one of our
album picks without issue. Apart from Led Zeppelin, of course.
Musical performance is perfectly
listenable, but lacks the subtlety of the
best, sounding less precise than some of
the higher-bitrate services. Drum kicks
have more impact and note outlines are
tighter in services such as Spotify and
Sony Music Unlimited, but Rdio is still
suitably detailed and easy to listen to.
We did find Rdio’s desktop and web
apps had a tendency to log us out after a
while, which was rather annoying – even
20 minutes of inactivity would require
another login. Thankfully that frustration
is not replicated on the mobile apps.
New customers only?
Overall, Rdio offers little to tempt users
of other streaming services to move
over, but could easily attract those yet to
form an allegiance thanks to its strong
catalogue, good interface and great
social features. We just wish it would
up its bitrates a notch to make it more
competitive on the sound-quality front.
Rating ★★★★ ★
FOR Well designed UI; good catalogue; great
social connectivity; iPad app
AGAINST No Android tablet app; bitrate could
be more competitive; logging-out bug
VERDICT Rdio does little to stand out, but has
a great UI and some winning social features

Sony has brought all compatible
devices into line in terms of
functionality and playback quality
Sony Music Unlimited
Unless you’ve owned a Sony electronics
product in the past few years, it may
have passed you by that Sony offers its
own music-streaming subscription
service, packing an impressive catalogue
of 22 million songs worldwide.
If you are a Sony user though, well,
you can’t not have known about it. The
app is pre-installed on most Sony
devices you can think of, plus available
on wider Android and iOS phones and
tablets too. And as it turns out, it’s
actually worth a look too.
Setting the standard
Last year saw Sony finally bring all
compatible devices into line in terms of
functionality and playback quality, truly
making it a competitive service where it
had previously struggled.
Now, no matter what device you’re
using, premium user playback will top
out at 320kbps and offline listening is
available across the board – though it’s
worth noting that this does dip to a
rather dire 48kbps.
The app is nicely thought-out and
easy to use across platforms, though
iPad users are once again left out, with
no tablet-specific app at the moment.
Menus are well signposted down a
left-hand column so you can navigate
around them quickly and easily, whether
you’re dipping into a genre, era or mood-
from £4.99/month ★★★★ ★
SUBSCRIPTION inspired channel, making your own
OPTIONS playlist around an artist, checking up on
■ Access, for chart favourites, or finding new releases
those planning to and artist suggestions on the homepage.
listen only from a Of course, you can always just search
Mac or PC, costs for what you fancy, though our test did
£4.99/month. pull up some surprising gaps considering
■ Premium Sony’s quoted catalogue numbers.
playback from Social aspects fall behind the leaders
mobile devices, of Spotify, Deezer and Rdio though, with
TVs and the like, only the ability to share tracks on
is £9.99/month. Twitter or Facebook manually, but no
There’s a 30-day way to discover music through friends
free trial for in-app in return.
premium subs. And then comes the dichotomy of its
quality offering. On one hand, its
320kbps high-quality streams are among
Platforms + Apps
Sony’s app is pre-installed on a whole host
of Sony kit, including all Xperia phones and
tablets, Bravia TVs, Sony Walkmans, Blu-ray
players and PlayStation devices. There’s a
web app for laptop use. It’s currently only
available across Android and iOS devices,
and an iPad-optimised app is sadly absent
at the moment too.
Catalogue
Size 22,000,000 Our picks 7/10
We had high hopes, but alongside Led Zeppelin it lacked Stevie Wonder’s
Innervisions and had just three songs from The Verve’s Urban Hymns.
STREAMING SERVICES TEST
our favourite sounding on test, with
impressive detail levels, precise note
formation and a warm and exciting
character. On the other sits its 48kbps
offline playback – noticeably worse, with
basslines undefined and fuzzy, dynamics
squashed and an overall soft, unrefined
character. If offline playback is
something you’ll be doing a lot of, you
won’t want to spend your money here.
Fit for purpose
Sony’s service is far from the bloatware
that it could be mistaken for when found
pre-loaded on to devices, offering a
largely easy-to-use experience and one
of the best-sounding services out there.
Its catalogue gaps do let it down
though, and we can’t let that terrible
offline playback bitrate slide either.
These things need addressing if Music
Unlimited is going to challenge the
industry further than through its
pre-instalment in Sony kit.
Rating ★★★★ ★
FOR Exciting, detailed 320kbps sound;
easy-to-use apps
AGAINST 48kbps offline playback; no
iPad-specific app
VERDICT A promising service from Sony,
let down by its offline playback quality
www.whathif.com 55
TEST STREAMING SERVICES
It’s hard not to be impressed with
Spotify. Its track record at securing
big exclusives is a major coup
Spotify is arguably the company that
really kicked off the big music-streaming
revolution and, in many ways, it’s still
the company leading it too.
Launched in Sweden in late 2008, it
had built a user base of 10 million people
within two years. Now there are more
than 24 million active users of the service.
Interface issues
Spotify has arguably dropped the ball a
little when it comes to its interface – the
likes of Deezer, Napster and Rdio now
offer a nicer user experience.
A new desktop design is being rolled
out – it looks cleaner, but is more a lick of
paint than a complete overhaul. It hasn’t
hit our laptops as yet though, so it could
be a while before it’s a full release.
Content, though, is as strong as ever.
Users navigate from a menu on the
left-hand side – Browse and Discover
being two key areas. The former has
playlists, new music and editorial
features, while the latter offers up
suggestions based on what you and your
friends have been listening to, thanks to
a Facebook hook-up. You can keep up to
date with artists’ latest releases too.
Similar to Deezer, Spotify has an app
store for app development from third
parties, adding further playlists and
editorial content from the likes of The
Guardian, the BBC and Rolling Stone.
56 www.whathif.com
Spotify
from £free ★★★★★
Subscription Spotify’s catalogue is up with the best
Options any streaming service has to offer. Its
■ Free This is influence in the industry has won it big
ad-supported and exclusives from the likes of Metallica
now available on and Led Zeppelin, with very few gaps of
mobile devices too. note elsewhere – something that wins it
■ Premium For major brownie points in this test.
£9.99, this option It keeps its catalogue up to date too,
removes the ads and knows how to shout about it. During
and boosts sound testing, its page on new releases was
quality to updated daily, unlike others in this test.
320kbps. It also Making playlists for online and offline
allows unlimited listening is a simple process, though
online and ofine there are some much-missed features
streaming. that Spotify could do with addressing,
such as the ability to add full albums to
existing playlists within the mobile app.
Platforms + Apps
As one of the biggest streaming services, it
makes sense that Spotify should have the widest
platform support. And it is extensive. Android,
iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and even
Symbian have apps, as well as features on Virgin
TiVo boxes, Sonos speakers and a growing
amount of AV kit through Spotify Connect.
These all support the desktop and web apps.
Catalogue
Size 20,000,000 Our picks 10/10
There’s no denying that Spotify’s huge catalogue strengths are one of the
biggest reasons you should consider spending your £10/month here.
Spotify has long allowed you to add
local tracks from your laptop to your
playlists within the desktop app, and
recently it has added the ability to sync
these tracks to your mobile devices too.
For Premium subscribers, Spotify has
320kbps playback, with 160kbps as the
free bitrate and a 96kbps option for
mobile users wanting to limit data use.
Quality sound
The highest-quality playback offers great
levels of detail and a tonally balanced
presentation. It sounds a touch harder
and grainier than Google and Sony’s
320kbps services, but that edge is likely
to be negligible on most kit.
Despite not leading the pack in sound
quality, it’s hard not to be impressed
with Spotify. Its track record at securing
big exclusives is a major coup, and, as
arguably the biggest-name service, it’s
bound to keep attracting them. Spotify
is undoubtedly a tough one to beat.
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Best catalogue; leading social features;
great free service; strong platform support
AGAINST Interface could be improved, hint of
hardness in sound
VERDICT If you want the most complete
streaming service around, this is it
 Bloom.fm
£10/month ★★★ ★ ★
In all honestly, there are a number of
things that should make us dislike
Bloom.fm, but it’s really hard to do that
when something looks this good.
Let’s get things clear from the off – this
is no swish, high-tech-looking app. In
fact, if an app can be described as cutesy,
this is it. But it’s a joy to use, with some
really nice attention to detail and a great
emphasis on music discovery.
Unique approach
Bloom.fm has a unique approach to
subscription options, allowing you to
‘borrow’ tracks for offline listening at
various price points, which you can
swap at any point, but it’s only at the top
£10/month tier that you get unlimited
streaming. This way you can search for
tracks and artists on demand, as well as
stream the genre-specific radio stations.
When searching, it’s easy to get lost –
in a good way – in Bloom.fm’s music
discovery menus. Click similar artists
and you can really drill down artist-by-
artist, level-by-level, to find new music
Pure Connect
from £4.99/month ★★★★ ★
Pure Connect is a streaming service
that uniquely offers music streaming
alongside live radio. It has recently
spread its wings, launching in the US
as well as in the UK.
It’s very much a service in its own
right, and offers over 15 million tracks,
20,000 live (rather than personalised)
radio stations and 200,000 on-demand
podcasts. Tracks local to your device can
be controlled via the app too.
App hits the spot
App compatibility is limited to iOS and
Android, but there is that coveted
tablet-designed app for both platforms,
which is really nicely considered. It
looks great across devices, and offers
some useful music discovery features.
Playback controls are a little on the
small side, and we’d argue they could
have been given a little more screen real
estate. Social features are on the limited
side too; you can share music to Twitter
and Facebook but there’s no way of
seeing what your friends are listening to.
58 www.whathif.com
similar to what you like. It’s quite SUBSCRIPTIONS
addictive to see what it’ll suggest next. ■ Bloom Zero
Playback for streamed tracks is around free, ad-supported
160kbps, which we found a little soft and radio playback.
restrained. It’s perfectly listenable, but ■ Bloom 20
you’ll find more get up and go in streams £1/month, ad-free.
from Qobuz and Google. You can get a 20 tracks ofine.
quality boost for your borrowed tracks, ■ Bloom 200
however, which will playback at £5/month, ad-free
320kbps if you choose. There are no web 200 tracks ofine.
or tablet-designed apps, though the ■ Full Bloom £10/
former is in the works. month, unlimited
There is Facebook sharing though, if streaming and
you’re keen to let your mates know what ofine listening.
you’ve been playing, and you can share
tracks with other Bloom.fm users. The Bloom.fm ofers a
catalogue is largely competitive, but refreshingly diferent
searching for our album picks showed it approach to streaming
up as the worst on test, finding just half
of the albums we searched for.
Still, we can’t help but love Bloom.fm. Rating ★★★ ★ ★
We challenge you to pick it up and not FOR Lovely design; accessible subs options; great for music discovery
feel the same way. But its limited AGAINST Social aspect lacking; soft, restrained sound; no web or tablet
availability across platforms and low apps; catalogue has some gaps
bitrate quality means its not quite ready VERDICT A beautiful app to use, but falls behind on its catalogue.
to square up to the big boys.
Pure’s catalogue was largely SUBSCRIPTION
competitive in our tests, only hiccupping OPTIONS
on two of our ten picks – Led Zeppelin’s ■ Green Local
IV and Beyonce’s recent, self-titled tracks and 20,000
album. Most other popular music, save radio stations. Free.
for the standard no-shows, proved to be ■ Blue Unlimited
pretty well stocked though. You can buy streaming without
tracks via Pure Music too (only via ofine playback for
computer) at 320kbps, though we £4.99/month.
generally found them to be a touch more ■ Violet Unlimited
expensive than iTunes or Google Music. streaming with
Its streaming bitrate, however, is low, ofine playback
with streams maxing out at just 128kbps for £9.99/month.
in MP3 format. It held up surprisingly
well in listening tests, however, sounding
decently detailed and punchy, if a touch Sound quality is
on the smooth side in comparison with surprisingly good
something like Google Music. given the low bitrates
Pure Connect might not be the first
streaming service that comes to mind
when deciding where to spend your Rating ★★★★ ★
money, but it has fared admirably in our FOR Well-designed app; strong catalogue; can incorporate local music;
test. If live radio is a draw and you’re an live radio will be a draw for some; ability to purchase tracks
iOS or Android user, this combination AGAINST Low bitrate; platform compatibility could be wider
could be a winner – though we’d like to VERDICT Much to admire, especially for tablet-using fans of live radio
see those low bitrates improved upon.

Rara
from £4.99/month ★★★ ★ ★
Rara launched in 2011 with one specific
aim. Instead of going head-to-head with
the big players in the market, its
emphasis was on simplicity, targeting
people its chairman says “are either not
technically literate, or like music but
don’t know a huge amount about it”.
Spend a bit of time navigating through
the web and mobile apps, and you’ll see
what he means – this is no interface for a
tech-savvie music fan.
Child’s play
Well-labelled icons, illustrated by some
rather clichéd stock imagery, take you
to a whole host of ready-to-go content,
with a heavy emphasis on pre-loaded
playlists and radio stations. These cover
everything from themes and genres to
moods and chart compilations, leaving
as little work as possible for the user.
Rara Radar is the section to go to for
a heads-up on new albums and songs,
while the rather cheesily titled Just For
You is a curated list of suggested songs
based on your streaming habits.
Xbox Music Pass
from £free ★★ ★ ★ ★
At first glance, Xbox Music Pass looks
promising. A 30-million-strong catalogue,
a free ad-supported option and a monthly
subscription £1 cheaper than most of its
competition. What’s not to like?
Millions tucked away
While its catalogue sounds great, where
the 10 million extra songs it has over
Spotify are hiding beats us. In day-to-day
use we didn’t come across anything that
other services didn’t have, though it is
fair to say it’s well stocked, finding nine
of the 10 albums we searched for.
More frustrating is that it’s void of any
form of personalised recommendations
and lacks the social features that we love
in services such as Spotify and Rdio.
The most you’ll get from the Explore
tab is a selection of new music and top
songs and albums – and this is strangely
absent from the iOS and Android apps.
In fact, unless you’re a Windows Phone
user (in which case the app is a visual
delight), the mobile experience is best
described as functional.
STREAMING SERVICES TEST
The catalogue is impressive at 22 SUBSCRIPTION
million songs deep, though our tests did OPTIONS
uncover some holes, finding only six out ■ Web-only No
of our 10 albums and missing ones from ofine streaming;
Stevie Wonder, The Verve, Led Zeppelin 99p/month for the
and The Libertines. frst three months
Songs take a while to load (more so on and £4.99 after.
the web app than on the mobile apps), ■ Premium
but once they do, it’s clear that playback Allows streaming
quality is aimed at the non-fussy across devices and
consumer, with a test low of 48kbps- ofine playback;
72kbps offered in Dolby Pulse audio. £1.99/month for
Rara promises near-CD-quality playback frst three months
without the file size, but that wasn’t our and £9.99 after.
experience. Music lacks the detail of the
likes of Sony Music Unlimited. Simplicity doesn’t
It’s hard to knock Rara, because what it compensate for poor
does, it does well. Playlists are extensive sound quality on Rara
and decently stocked and usability is
super-simple. But its interface design
borders on being dull and outdated, and Rating ★★★ ★ ★
its catalogue is lacking in some key FOR Decent catalogue; strong playlist offering; simple interface
areas. Above all for us, its sound quality AGAINST Poor sound quality; outdated design; playback niggles
doesn’t cut it in such a competitive VERDICT A good option for newbies and technophobes, but audiophiles
market place. Any consumer that puts can spend their money better elsewhere
audio quality frst should look elsewhere.
There’s no tablet-specific app for SUBSCRIPTION
Android or iOS either, making it a rather OPTIONS
clunky experience on a tablet. There are ■ Free but
also some functionality quirks, like the limited streaming
inability to be able to fast forward – with ads – allows
through a track, only skip it completely. 10 hours listening
At £8.99 a month (or £89.90 if paid per month (frst six
annually), there is a saving to be made, months unlimited).
but if you’re hoping to stream your ■ Unlimited,
music via your Xbox you’ll need to make ad-free streaming
sure you’re an Xbox Live Gold member with ofine
too, at £40 a year. playback for
If you are, you will be able to stream £8.99/month or
70,000 music videos on demand in £89.90/year.
addition to the music – a nice addition if
Xbox Live Gold is something you’d be With few features and
paying for anyway, but expensive when poor sound quality, it’s
YouTube can do the same for free. an also-ran in this test
To top it all off, its streams of 192kbps
WMA files were among the worst
sounding on test. A stream of Kanye Rating ★★ ★ ★ ★
West’s Blood on the Leaves sounded FOR Free model available; competitive prices; large catalogue
crude and unsubtle. AGAINST Unrefined sound quality; limited app availability; lacks any real
For Xbox users, the Xbox Music service recommendation or social features; functionality quirks
might make sense. For everyone else, VERDICT With so many drawbacks, even its cheaper price can’t help it
there’s much better available elsewhere.
www.whathif.com 59
 TEST VERDICT
THE WINNER
Spotify
£9.99/month ★★★★★
With so many capable streaming services vying for attention, our winner had to impress
in every way. This was no walkover, but Spotify still shows the others how it’s done
S
potify isn’t the biggest music-
streaming service out there for no
reason – it’s also the best. Stacked
up against 10 of its biggest competitors,
there’s not a single other service that
offers the same all-round experience,
and for that reason, it tops our test.
It’s not the best-sounding option
though – if that’s a priority for you then
you’ll want to look to the FLAC-tastic,
and fellow five-star testmate, Qobuz.
You’ll be paying £19.99 a month for the
privilege, but many will feel it’s worth it
for the boost in sound quality.
Getting the balance right
For most, though, it will be about
balancing performance with features,
and a service’s catalogue – the ability to
hear the songs you want, when you
want to hear them – is arguably one of
the most important things to consider.
It’s here that Spotify’s ability to attract
the big-name exclusives cannot be
underestimated. And being the only
service to offer the back catalogues of
the likes of Led Zeppelin and Metallica
gives it quite the advantage over its
competition. If The Beatles ever make it
to the world of streaming, we know who
we’d have our money on getting them.
60 www.whathif.com
Of course, it’s not all about the music
we know – we also turn to our streaming
services to uncover new artists, and
who better to do that through than your
friends? Here again Spotify flexes its
muscles, alongside the likes of Napster,
Deezer and Rdio, all of which offer great
recommendations based on what
friends have listened to. Music is a more
social experience than ever, and these
services recognise that more than most.
The importance of design can’t be
underplayed either. Make a service
uninspiring to look at or difficult to use
and you’ll struggle to make a significant
impact on the industry. Qobuz has
quirks that can make it guilty of the
latter, while both Xbox Music and Rara
fall foul of the former, contributing in
part to their lowly two- and three-star
ratings respectively.
That said, a great design and concept
can’t carry a product that’s lacking in
other areas, and while we really loved
Bloom.fm’s clean, unique interface, its
limited platform compatibility and
occasional catalogue gap sealed its fate
at three stars.
If editorial content is important to
you, Napster is definitely worth a look,
while Pure Connect has the unique
offering of live radio stations and
thousands of on-demand podcasts as
well as streaming. They both dropped a
star for their lacklustre bitrates though,
and really need to get these up to
320kbps in order to compete. While
Rdio has a lot going for it in the usability
stakes, it’s in a similar boat.
Penalty points
Conversely, Google Play Music All Access
and Sony Music Unlimited topped out
as some of our favourite-sounding
services on test. But Sony’s dreadful
offline playback quality and Google’s
refusal to allow social sharing from
anything but Google + caused us to
dock them both a star from the full five.
The remaining five-star honouree is
Deezer. It put in a valiant effort
for the test crown, offering similar
strengths in social experience, usability
and innovation, all within a slightly
better interface and with a price tag half
that of Spotify’s (for an introductory six
months). It is Spotify’s faultless
catalogue and slightly wider platform
support, however, that edges it the win.
With all things considered, we can’t
recommend a better place to spend
your monthly tenner.
 STREAMING SERvIcES TEST

Bloom.fm Deezer Google All Access Napster Pure Connect Qobuz

£10/month
★★★
Catalogue 22 million
• Bitrate up to 320kbps
• File format AAC, MP3
• Countries 2 • Mobile
platforms Android, iOS •
Desktop app No • Tablet
optimised No
from £free £9.99/month from £5/month from £4.99/month £19.99/month (FLAC)
★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★
Catalogue 30 million Catalogue 18 million Catalogue 20 million Catalogue 15 million Catalogue 14 million
• Bitrate up to 320kbps • Bitrate up to 320kbps • Bitrate up to 192kbps • Bitrate up to 128kbps • • Bitrate up to 16 bit/
• File format MP3 • • File format MP3 • • File format AAC+, MP3 File format MP3 • 44.1kHz • File format
Countries 180 • Mobile Countries 21 • Mobile • Countries 24 • Mobile Countries 3 • Mobile FLAC • Countries 9 •
platforms Android, platforms Android, iOS • platforms Android, iOS • platforms Android, iOS • Mobile platforms
Blackberry, iOS, Symbian, Desktop app No • Tablet Desktop app No • Tablet Desktop app No • Tablet Android, iOS, Windows 8
Windows Phone/8 • optimised Android optimised Android, iOS optimised Android, iOS • Desktop app Yes •
Desktop app No • Tablet Tablet optimised
Android, iOS, Windows 8 Android, iOS, Windows

Catalogue Catalogue Catalogue Catalogue Catalogue Catalogue

Features Features Features Features Features Features
Sound Sound Sound Sound Sound Sound

Rara
from £4.99/month
★★★
Catalogue 22 million
• Bitrate up to 72kbps •
File format Dolby Pulse •
Countries 32 • Mobile
platforms Android, iOS,
Windows 8 • Desktop
app No • Tablet
optimised iOS, Windows
Catalogue
Features
Sound
TRY BEfoRE
YoU BUY
Subscription rates
and arrangements
might vary widely
between these
services, but all of
Rdio Sony Music Unlimited Spotify Xbox Music Pass
them ofer some
from £4.99/month from £4.99/month from £free from £free
kind of free trial,
★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★
usually lasting 30
Catalogue 20 million Catalogue 22 million Catalogue 20 million Catalogue 30 million
days. Be sure to
• Bitrate up to 192kbps • • Bitrate up to 320kbps • • Bitrate up to 320kbps • • Bitrate up to 192kbps • take advantage of
File format MP3 • File format AAC • File format Ogg Vorbis • File format WMA •
this with any of the
Countries 51 • Mobile Countries 19 • Mobile Countries 55 • Mobile Countries 22 • Mobile
services you like
platforms Android, platforms Android, iOS • platforms Android, platforms Android, iOS,
the look of before
BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Desktop app No • Tablet Blackberry, iOS, Symbian, Windows Phone,
you sign up and
Phone • Desktop app No optimised Android Windows Phone • D’top Windows 8 • Desktop
commit your cash
• Tablet optimised iOS app Yes • Tablet app No • Tablet
to one, as it takes a
optimised Android, iOS optimised Windows
while to familiarise
Catalogue Catalogue Catalogue Catalogue yourself with a
Features Features Features Features service’s features
Sound Sound Sound Sound and interface.

SYSTEM BUILDER

Tablet Amplifier Stereo speakers

Apple iPad Air NAD D3020 Q Acoustics Concept 20
£740 ★★★★★ £400 ★★★★★ £350 ★★★★★
Spotify’s iOS app is a treat, and the This Award-winning amp’s Bluetooth No other speakers under £500 can
gorgeous Air has class-leading sound capability makes it the perfect choice match the Qs’clarity and refnement

www.whathif.com 61
 3

2
small, discreet cans have
their place but for the best sound, you want…

Massive Leaky
HeadpHones We give our verdicts on five leading open-backed
4

designs, so all you have to do is use your head

Join us on Spotify
whf.cm/playlist2014
Listen to our favourite tracks every month!

5
1

For more news, reviews and

buying advice, visit whathif.com

62 www.whathif.com

1 2
Audio Technica ATH-AD700X
£190 ★★★★ ★
These Audio Technicas are huge. An open-
back design that’s purely for home listening,
they will make you look like a cyberman. But
are they the audio upgrade you’re after?
If you’re after a wonderfully airy and open
soundfield, these have it in spades. There’s
plenty of detail on offer, although a slightly
brittle top end can curb the enjoyment a little.
Play the complex 60 Feet Tall by The Dead
Weather and there’s ample space for the
instruments and vocals to breathe, while the
layers of clean detail keep you hooked into the
song. We would, though, have liked to hear a
more musical approach; there’s a shortage of
rhythmic drive that makes the presentation
more about analysis than entertainment.
Soft and roomy
The soft earcups are roomy and comfortable,
although we would have liked a little more
tension in the two securing flaps under the
headband – the luxurious Philips Fidelio X1s
offer better grip.
We love the airy, open sound these Audio
Technicas supply, and their attention to detail
is impressive. The Grado and Philips models
might sound more musical and more exciting,
but these ATH-AD700Xs are well worth a listen.
4 5
Philips Fidelio X1 BEST SOUND
£200 ★★★★★
These luxurious open-back headphones have
been in our good graces since we first reviewed
them over a year ago, and we’re still stunned by
just how powerful they sound.
If you’re a fan of rock and heavy metal, these
are the cans for you. From Van Halen to Avenged
Sevenfold, the sheer force behind the music is
just fantastic to hear. It’s a punchy, rousing
performance that never runs out of energy.
A subtle side
It’s not all about power, though. The Fidelio X1s
can handle tracks with finesse and subtlety.
Voices are nuanced and expressive, with every
rasp and gravel in a Tom Waits vocal laid bare.
If we could, we would dial down the deep,
rich bass a notch, but it’s not overdone enough
to be worrying, and it doesn’t compromise the
top end. Only the Grado SR80is (half the price)
offer more in terms of agility. However, the X1s
win out on dynamics and detail.
These are among the most comfortable
headphones we’ve ever worn too, the velvety
soft memory-foam earpads and leather
headband combining effectively.
The X1s are a stupendous listen, with the
kind of detail, dynamics and power that’s hard
to find in headphones at this price.
German Maestro GMP 240
£120 ★★★ ★ ★
Take a glance at the German Maestro GMP 240
headphones and you’d be forgiven for thinking
that the basic, heavy-duty build and design
wouldn’t offer the most comfortable or
engaging headphone experience. The leather
headband, however, is surprisingly flexible and
comfortable, while the velvet ear pads are soft
and don’t make your ears hot.
A little overweight
But it’s not all good news when it comes to
sound performance. Play Aerosmith’s Pink and
the GMP 240s bound along with a huge amount
of bass, but of the chunky, slightly flabby kind.
We’d almost forgive that, but a cursory
approach to the midrange means voices are
muffled and lack clarity.
The funky beats and agile tempo of Stevie
Wonder’s Superstition are subdued as a result of
the vague edges at the start and stop of notes.
There’s also a hint of hardness to the treble.
The truth is that these headphones don’t
have the insight or rhythmic ability of the
Grado SR80is, while the Sennheiser HD 558s
show how to deliver a smooth, bassy sound
with finesse. The GMP 240s are decent enough,
but if you really want to enjoy your music
collection, best to look elsewhere.
Sennheiser HD 558
£130 ★★★★ ★
Sometimes, what you see is what you get, and
the sleek, sturdy, plush velour design of these
Sennheisers perfectly reflects the rich, smooth
sound they produce. The HD 558s feel every
inch a premium product.
Easy does it
There’s such a gentle, easy-going character here
that we could listen to these cans for hours.
Drums hit with a pleasing impact, bass notes
are rich and deep, and voices sound expressive.
There are no harsh edges to the HD 558’s sound.
These headphones trade outright
transparency and insight for a more easy-going
and forgiving character. Much of the time that’s
a plus, but it does mean that you lose some
degree of aggression and attack on songs that
demand them. Whether it’s Tom Waits or Public
Enemy, the HD 558s will iron out the rough
edges and deliver a more polite version. They
also aren’t quite as open as the others here.
If you want outright attack and excitement,
we’d point you in the direction of more skilled
headphones such as the rhythmic Grado
SR80is or the powerful Philips Fidelio X1s. But
the smooth, forgiving sound of the Sennhesers
is utterly listenable, and they’re oh-so-
comfortable to wear – give them an audition.
HeadpHones test
3
Grado SR80i BEST VALUE
£100 ★★★★ ★
Chances are you’ve seen these retro-looking
headphones in the pages of this magazine
before. That’s because the SR80is have won our
Award for best home on-ear headphones (up to
£150) for the past five years. Is there any
stopping them? Honestly? Probably not.
These Grados are simply brilliant. They have
the kind of musicality, sharp timing and subtle
dynamics that sounds effortless.
The Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and Trent
Reznor collaboration on Mantra demands great
cohesion, and the Grados deliver: the drums hit
with satisfying impact, the string plucks are
taut, and the edges of notes are spot on.
Clearly confident
It’s a confident performance, and full of
startling clarity. The SR80is never lose control
or miss a beat, and they do all this without ever
sounding clinical – just fluid and musical.
Those foam ear pads are more comfortable
than they look, but these cans do leak sound
freely, even relative to the others in this test.
They might not have the visual allure of the
Sennheiser Momentums or Philips Fidelio X1s,
but these headphones are an endlessly
enthusiastic and engaging listen, and still blow
the competition away at this price.
The pocket-sized DAC that
will make all the diference
All these headphones are really open and
revealing, and therefore
arguably far too capable
to truly shine with just a
smartphone or tablet.
Headphones of this quality
will usually come into their
own when plugged into your
main hi-f system. Of
course, that doesn’t
mean you can’t use
them with your desktop
or laptop computer. In
that case, a standalone
DAC is ideal for giving
your tunes a hi-f boost.
For a newly reduced
price of £130, the stylish
and USB-stick-sized
Audioquest DragonFly
v1.2 is a fne complement
to these headphones.
With its terrifc sense of
timing, wide-ranging
dynamic reach and clear
insight, you’ll be
head-bopping along to
the punchy, engaging
sound it supplies.
www.whathif.com 63
64 www.whathif.com
 PROJECTORS test

Tested

Epson EH-TW9200W
£3000 page 67

InFocus IN5144A
£2900 page 68

Panasonic PT-AT6000E
£3000 page 70

Sony VPL-HW55ES
£2800 page 71

Put your
movies on
Full Beam
A projector just can’t be beaten when it comes to big-screen thrills in the
home. And the £3000 mark is where things start getting really serious

T
elevisions are getting bigger and flashier these
days, but nothing can give you a cinematic
experience like a good projector. For £3000, you
can buy some seriously good ones. We’ve assembled a
bunch of them here: the two-time Award-winning
Panasonic PT-AT6000E once again defends its title, this
time against new challengers from Epson, InFocus and
Sony. Turn the page and discover the best way to recreate
the cinema experience in your own home.

For more news, reviews and

buying advice, visit whathif.com

www.whathif.com 65

EH-TW9200W £3000
EPSON
★★★★
Epson’s latest Full HD, 3D LCD
projector is very good. It is the
company’s flagship home cinema unit,
and it comes with some neat tricks.
The most interesting of these is the
WirelessHD transmitter. It’s a box that
accepts up to five HDMI sources, fed
wirelessly to your projector.
Beautifully built
The projector itself is a large, smooth
unit with curves to reduce the
appearance of bulkiness. There are zoom
and focus controls at the top, basic
operation keys at the side (under a flap)
and inputs at the back: two HDMI,
component, composite and PC. It’s
beautifully built and finished.
Top marks so far for features and
connections. The picture, however, isn’t
quite class-leading. It’s a mostly strong
performance with bright colours and
deep, detailed blacks. Shifting gradients
have a good degree of subtlety. But we’re
surprised by the degree of motion
instability on hand, with fast-moving
scenes the worst affected.
You can make things a little better
with settings such as ‘Frame
Interpolation’ and ‘Super Resolution’,
We like the Epson’s 3D presentation, and it’s
hard not to be impressed by the wireless
feature, fne build and abundant connections
but these make the picture look artificial
and processed. The issue is less
noticeable with calmer scenes, where
the Epson is a comfortable watch.
It’s never truly eye-catching, however.
Colours aren’t as bright and vibrant as
we’d like, especially when compared
with the Panasonic or Sony in this test.
There’s a shortage of intensity and
punch, especially in brighter areas. We
could also do with a greater degree of
sharpness, and a better sense of depth.
A few adjustments
We always set up our projectors using a
THX Optimizer disc as a starting point,
but we find ourselves tweaking the
settings quite a lot after that. At least it’s
easy to navigate the system’s clean
menus and comfortable remote control.
If you’re a fan of 3D, Even with the focus optimised and
this machine ticks all the contrast and brightness bumped up
the right boxes – a bit, we still aren’t completely satisfied
including comfort with the intensity of the punch offered.
PROJECTORS test
NO
STRINGS
This Epson comes with a
wireless HD transmitter. We really
like the idea because not everyone
can, or wants to, trail cables all over
the place. Take care with placement,
though; a steady connection
requires a direct line of sight
between transmitter
and projector.
Onwards to 3D, and it’s a different
story. It’s a real highlight of the Epson,
and handled with confidence. There are
minimal motion issues and there’s
dramatic depth of field. And despite the
active-shutter 3D glasses, the viewing
experience is comfortable.
We’re a touch disappointed with this
Epson. Its 2D picture is good but not
great, and poses no real challenge to the
long-standing Panasonic or the new
Sony. We like its 3D, however, and it’s
hard not to be impressed by the wireless
feature and abundant connections.
Rating ★★★ ★ ★
FOR Bright, colourful, punchy picture; good
detail; immersive 3D; build; wireless features
AgAinst Slight motion issues; others have
greater punch and insight with 2D
VeRdict It’s no showstopper, but this
beautifully built projector is still entertaining
www.whathif.com 67
test PROJECTORS
IN5144a £2900
INFOCUS
★★★
The InFocus IN5144a doesn’t care how
it looks. That’s not to say it’s unattractive
– it just appears to mean business,
regardless of your room’s aesthetics.
And there’s no reason that it should
care, either. The InFocus website lists
the IN5144a as a ‘large venue projector’.
But it has a lot going for it, which isn’t
surprising considering the company’s
strong output in the past.
For a start, it’s seriously well
connected. Having two HDMI inputs is
fairly standard, but here you also get
VGA, USB-A, USB-B, composite,
component and S-Video.
There are also audio inputs, in case
you feel like using the tiny on-board
speakers (we wouldn’t!). You get an
easy-to-use motorised lens, too. Set-up is
a breeze. The remote control is easy
enough to use, but there are also a lot of
buttons on the projector itself.
The light programme
This is an incredibly bright projector.
While its rivals measure somewhere in
the region of 2000 lumens, this InFocus
boasts a whopping 5500 lumens.
We turn up the lights in our testing
room, and the picture is still very clear
68 www.whathif.com
Having two HDMI inputs is fairly standard,
but here you also get VGA, USB-A USB-B,
composite, component and S-Video sockets
and detailed. Colours are fairly well
balanced, with enough subtlety.
Of course, there are going to be issues.
We’re not surprised to see the black levels
affected by the high brightness. Blacks
are often washed out and don’t
discriminate. We watch the Shanghai
skyscraper scene from Skyfall, and
it’s quite hard to separate Bond from
the shadows.
Less than poetry in motion
Motion isn’t great. Slow panning shots
show up a bit of stutter. Even in
stationary shots, slow-moving people
appear jerkier than we’d like.
Then there’s the matter of definition.
This projector has a resolution of 1280 x
800. It can accept anything up to 1920 x
1200, but that gets downscaled. The lack
Very much a projector of Full HD, unsurprisingly, results in a
for specialised use, softer picture. If you’re after a projector
the InFocus can’t to show off your Blu-rays in the most
match its price rivals pin-sharp way, this is not it.
To top things off, there’s quite a bit of
noise – in the picture as well as coming
from the projector. Oh, and there’s no 3D.
This projector will appeal to a specific
crowd: those who can’t or don’t want to
use projectors exclusively in the dark.
It’s when you draw the curtains that the
benefits start to diminish.
If you’re serious about picture quality
and you want to get the best out of your
2D and 3D Blu-rays, we’d steer clear of
this. If your needs are a little more
unconventional, or if you have a serious
amount of kit to hook up, the InFocus
IN5144a is a viable alternative choice.
Rating ★★★ ★ ★
FOR Very bright; seriously well connected
AgAinst Low resolution; messy blacks; motion
not great; no 3D; noisy picture; noisy fan
VeRdict Unless you specifically want a
projector for a bright room, you can do better
PT-AT6000E £3000
PANASONIC
★★★★★
Already widely available for a few
hundred pounds less than when we first
gave it an Award in 2012 (and again in
2013), this Panasonic is going to take
some beating. It’s such a great all-
rounder that it has taken up permanent
residence in one of our testing rooms.
But this arena is evolving as fast as any
other, so how does it fare against
younger, fresher opponents?
It does very well indeed, even for a
more mature model. We really like its
colours, which are punchy and vibrant.
We put on a Blu-ray of F1 drama Rush
and the paintjob on the cars is striking.
Highlights and bright areas are more
eye-catching than even Epson’s latest
candidate, the EH-TW9200W. It’s never
unnaturally punchy, however – skin
tones are convincing and there’s a good
sense of realism. That said, the Sony
edges ahead in this area, offering slightly
more nuance to gradual shading.
Sharp enough to shave…
The Panasonic offers an astonishingly
high level of sharpness. Edges are
resolute, which really helps objects
to stand out. As we watch James Bond
wag his chin in Skyfall, it’s easy to make
70 www.whathif.com
The Panasonic ofers an astonishingly high
level of sharpness. Edges are resolute, and
that really helps objects to stand out
out the individual grey whiskers on
Daniel Craig’s face.
You get deep, faithful blacks, with just
enough light to reveal the darkest details.
Even as Bond sneaks about in a dimly lit
Shanghai skyscraper, it’s easy to make
out the leathery texture of his gloves.
Finely composed slow movement
Motion is also handled with confidence.
Slow panning and tracking shots are the
trickiest to pull off smoothly, but there’s
barely a trace of stutter or blur.
Then there’s the 3D performance,
which is strong. It’s a comfortable watch
(an important thing for active 3D
glasses), with a decent sense of depth.
The most complex scenes will result in
the occasional bit of crosstalk, but
mostly this is a capable showing. It’s not
It’s no spring chicken the best in this company, however – both
but the Panasonic the Epson and the Sony edge ahead
still excels where when it comes to displaying a more
it really matters dramatic impression of depth.
As for design, the Panasonic is largely
business-like. It’s clear that function has
been prioritised over form.
Around the back you’ll find three
HDMI inputs plus PC, component,
composite and S-Video slots. Set-up is
easy thanks to a straightforward remote,
a simple interface and motorised lens.
You’ll be enjoying the picture in no time.
It’s not hard to see why this Panasonic
has won two Awards and a permanent
spot in out testing rooms. Despite newer
models, it holds its own in 2D and 3D,
and walks away with its five stars intact.
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Punchy colours; sharp picture; great
detail; comfy 3D performance
AgAinst It’s up against some tough new
rivals; business-like appearance
VeRdict This two-time champion is still
brilliant, but the younger competition is strong

VPL-HW55ES £2800
SONY
★★★★★
Trust Sony to give us something
easy on the eye. The VPL-HW55ES is
attractive, so far as that’s possible with a
projector – there’s something in the
symmetry and glossy top that’s alluring.
This allure turns to puzzlement as we
find the inputs (two HDMIs and a
component) on the side of the projector.
Puzzlement turns to mild disappointment
as we fiddle with the manual lens shift
and find it a bit cumbersome. At least
the remote control and menus are slick,
so it’s easy to fine-tune the picture.
Natural precision
Once set up, those hiccups become
irrelevant – the picture is stunning.
Everything the Panasonic can do, this
Sony does a bit better. It’s a very natural
picture with a high level of precision.
We take off with a Blu-ray of Gravity.
Slow-moving objects are the best at
showing off any motion instability, but
there’s none of that here. As Sandra
Bullock floats about, helpless in space,
motion is smoother than we’ve ever
seen for the money.
Black levels are very strong, with a
good amount of detail and easily
identifiable textures. They play well
We take of with a Blu-ray of Gravity. As Sandra
Bullock foats about, helpless in space, motion
is smoother than we’ve ever seen for the money
with lighter elements too. The space
shuttle contrasts nicely with the vast
expanse of black space. Whites are very
bright without greying out the blacks.
Colours are nicely handled. They’re
bright and punchy, but with plenty of
subtlety to gradients and shading. From
skin-tones to floorboards, the colours
feel natural and organic.
It’s also a really crisp picture. Objects
are well defined without looking overly
etched. It’s not easy to spot picture noise
either, because there is barely any.
All quiet for little disturbance
While we’re on the subject of noise: the
projector hardly makes any. After a bit of
initial whirring at start-up, it runs so
quietly that it’s unlikely to disturb even
the most sedate of scenes.
One or two minor We switch to 3D and continue to be
niggles can’t stop the impressed. Often, 3D has a tendency to
VPL-HW55ES being make everything look too dark. Not so
a frst-rate projector here: the picture is bright and vibrant.
PROJECTORS test
inputs
sidelined
Brilliant though it is, this Sony
has its panel of connections on the
side of the device rather than round
the back. That could help a minority
of users who might want to site their
projector against a back wall, but
for the rest of us it’s less than
convenient and not a little
unsightly.
As we watch flamingos walk by in Life
Of Pi, there’s a bit of image instability,
which can be improved by turning down
the ‘3D Glasses Brightness’ setting. We
found it best to have this set at halfway,
which produces a sufficiently bright
picture. Elsewhere, there’s a good sense
of depth, and motion is smooth.
We’re very impressed by the Sony
VPL-HW55ES. Its clean, sharp, natural
picture is nothing short of stunning. If
you’re considering a projector anywhere
near £3000, you really must have a good
look at this one.
Rating ★★★ ★★
FOR Crisp, clean picture; punchy colours; high
levels of detail; subtlety; nice looks; quiet
AgAinst Lens shift could be smoother;
nothing else of note
VeRdict A seriously capable performer that
does nearly everything right
www.whathif.com 71
 Projectors test

test VeRDICt
sYsteM BUILDeR
tHe WINNeR Don’t squander the Sony’s talents – make sure you
use partnering kit worthy of it. Like these three
Sony VPL-HW55ES
£2800 ★★★★★

AV receiver
Yamaha RX-A1020 £1000 ★★★★★
Match those authentic pictures with an
exciting, detailed and rich sound, courtesy
of this brilliant all-rounder

The Sony VPL-HW55ES’s combination of realism, detail,

smoothness and subtlety is enough to bring home gold Blu-ray player
Marantz UD7007 £700 ★★★★★
Our winner of the best Blu-ray player 2013

T
hree hundred inches. Sure,
these projectors don’t have the
fancy features of the most recent
TVs, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a
better way of getting a quality image of
that size. If you want a genuine
cinematic experience in your home, it
simply has to be a projector.
And not just any projector. For this
kind of money, you have some serious
options at your disposal. And of those,
it’s the Sony VPL-HW55ES that takes
the top prize.
The Sony’s picture is more realistic
than anything else here, including our
former champion at this price. The
Panasonic PT-AT6000E is a stonkingly
good projector – and the winner of an
Award two years in a row – but the Sony
edges ahead at every turn. The colours
are more accurate, details are finer,
motion is smoother and the overall
Award fts the bill perfectly
effect is a much more natural picture
full of subtlety and realism.
That’s not to say we don’t love the
Panasonic any more. It gets to keep
its five stars because it’s still very
impressive – especially now that it’s
widely available for a bit less than
its official price tag.
In third place is the Epson EH-
TW9200W. We find ourselves a little
disappointed that this newcomer doesn’t
pose more of a threat to the veteran Speaker package
Cambridge Audio Aero 5.1 £1950 ★★★★★
Panasonic, which is easily punchier.
Another Award-winner, this technologically
Still, it’s a capable performer that shines advanced and beautifully integrated system
in 3D, and we like its wireless option. has a punchy, yet articulate, delivery
Coming in last is the InFocus
IN5144a, which is outclassed. There’s
no shame in ceding superiority in this Total build £6450
company though, and the IN5144a has
its own quirks and is still worth
For a full list of specifcations and
considering if you want to use a
other useful info visit whathif.com
projector in lighter conditions.

Facts & figures

Epson EH-TW9200W InFocus IN5144a Panasonic PT-AT6000E Sony VPL-HW55ES

£3000 ★★★★
Type LCD • Resolution 1290 x 1080 •
Full HD Yes • Claimed contrast ratio
600,000:1 • Rated brightness 2400
lumens • Rated fan noise 32dB • Inputs
6 x HDMI, component • Dimensions
(hwd) 14 x 47 x 40cm • Weight 9kg
£2900 ★★★
Type LCD • Resolution 1280 x 800 •
Full HD No • Claimed contrast ratio
3000:1 • Rated brightness 5500
lumens • Rated fan noise 37dB • Inputs
2 x HDMI, component • Dimensions
(hwd) 15 x 50 x 48cm • Weight 9kg
£3000 ★★★★★
Type LCD • Resolution 1920 x 1080 •
Full HD Yes • Claimed contrast ratio
500,000:1 • Rated brightness 2400
lumens • Rated fan noise 22dB • Inputs
3 x HDMI, component • Dimensions
(hwd) 15 x 47 x 36cm • Weight 8.7kg
£2800 ★★★★★
Type SXRD • Resolution 1920 x 1080 •
Full HD Yes • Claimed contrast ratio
120,000:1 • Rated brightness 1700
lumens • Rated fan noise 21dB • Inputs
2 x HDMI, component • Dimensions
(hwd) 18 x 41 x 46cm • Weight 9.6kg

www.whathif.com 73
‘‘A large-scale sound
that’s full of authority ’’
■ Clearaudio Ovation/Talismann V2 Gold Turntable
■ £5995 ★★★★★
D
on’t let the Clearaudio Ovation’s
conventional shape fool you. This
is a cleverly designed turntable
packed with intelligent solutions to
engineering problems that designers
have struggled with for years.
The company has attacked head-on
issues to do with resonance in the plinth
and the noise generated in the arm and
main bearings, and has delivered a
product that is hugely capable.
Clearaudio also makes an extensive
range of cartridges, and here we’ve
chosen the £1095 Talismann v2 Gold – a
moving-coil design that’s a natural
partner to the Ovation deck and Clarify
arm when it comes to price.
There’s long been a fashion with
high-end turntables to look outlandish.
You’ll find all sorts of skeletal shapes and
odd-looking structures – after all, as long
as there’s a platter that spins and
somewhere to put the motor and the
arm, it doesn’t actually matter what the
rest of the deck looks like. It can be as
fancy as you like.
Traditional values
Aesthetic design considerations have
spawned turntables of all shapes and
sizes. The traditional rectangular plinth
design has become still less common as
manufacturers have realised they can not
only improve performance by getting rid
of the highly resonant plinth but also
This is a cleverly designed turntable packed
with intelligent solutions to engineering
problems that designers have struggled
with for years. It’s a hugely capable product
74 www.whathif.com
reduce costs. Still, many customers like
the traditional look, and the Ovation is
Clearaudio’s attempt to make such a
design work as well as it can.
The Ovation’s plinth has a sandwich
construction made up of two plates of
aluminium fitted on either side of a
Panzerholz layer. Panzerholz is a dense,
heavily processed wood that’s very
strong (bullet-proof, apparently) and
an effective damping agent.
A strong foundation
Together these ingredients make for a
well behaved, strong, low-resonance
platform for the rest of the components
to work from.
We’re taken with the Ovation’s
magnetic main-bearing design. There’s
a ceramic shaft that keeps the bearing
central, but no contact between the two
parts of the bearing apart from that. The
platter part just floats in air above the
plinth section. The result is very low
levels of noise and friction – ideal
properties for the job.
The Ovation uses a DC motor because
of its smooth operation, but the
downside with such motors has always
been the difficulty in regulating their
speed. Clearaudio has attacked this
problem with the use of a micro infrared-
sensor, which helps regulate rotational
speed. Drive is by a flat precision-ground
belt to the aluminium sub-platter. The
speed change is electrical and even has Tech specs
the option of 78rpm. Speeds 33.3, 45, 78
Even the main platter isn’t Drive Belt
conventional; it uses a material Electric speed
called POM, which is short for change Yes
Polyoxymethylene (in case you Manual operation
wondered). It’s an engineering Yes
thermoplastic used to make precision Semi-automatic
operation No
parts and has a density comparable to
Finishes 4
that of vinyl, which (it’s claimed) means
Dimensions (hwd)
any unwanted resonances in the record
14 x 42 x 35cm
sink into the platter.
The Clarify arm – included as standard
with the Ovation – is equally innovative.
It too uses a magnetic bearing to reduce
noise and friction. If you were to open it
up you’d find a single-piece wiring loom
that gives direct connection between the
cartridge tags and RCA plugs (in most
arms the wiring is split to make
construction easier). The lack of breaks in
the signal path mean there is less chance
of the delicate cartridge signals being
distorted on the way to the phono stage.
Cartridge goes for gold
Clearaudio’s Talismann v2 cartridge
completes the package. It uses a
hand-polished ebony body reinforced
with alloy to control resonance and add
rigidity. The screws fixing it to the arm
are plastic rather than metal to further
limit interference. Inside you’ll find
24-karat-gold coils connected to the
boron cantilever. The Talismann is a
nicely made but fairly chunky device
that tracks at a relatively high 2.8g.
Put it all together and you have a
really nicely made and engineered
turntable package. It’s easy to use and
relatively easy to site as long as you use
a rigid, well-damped equipment support.
As with all turntables this Clearaudio >
The arm is not physically
attached to its mounting,
but held in place by magnets
See overleaf for more detail…

A thick layer of processed

wood is sandwiched
between two aluminium
plates to form the plinth

www.whathif.com 75
Clearaudio Ovation/Talismann V2 Gold
In detail
1 Moving-magnet cartridge The Talismann V2
Gold tracks at 2.8g, which is on the heavy side,
but none the worse for it. The cartridge is attached
to the arm with plastic screws – we reckon they
help things sound better than metal equivalents.
will sound best well away from the
speakers, particularly as the design
doesn’t have any traditional suspension
system to help isolation.
The art of balance
How does it sound? The Ovation is
beautifully balanced. It treads the line
between excitement and refinement
well. Play an album such as Nirvana’s
Nevermind and this package responds
with enthusiasm. There’s plenty of drive,
a good level of rhythmical precision and
a large dose of punch. Songs such as
Come As You Are charge along with
Moving to the likes of Dukas’s Sorcerer’s
Apprentice and the Clearaudio is happy to
respond with a large-scale sound full of
authority and a generous helping of dynamics
plenty of bite and attitude. We’re taken
with the bass control and the agility of
the record player at low frequencies.
Moving to the likes of Dukas’s
Sorcerer’s Apprentice and the Clearaudio
is happy to respond with a large-scale
sound full of authority and a generous
helping of dynamics. There’s a huge
amount of control here too without the
player ever sounding like it’s damping
down the excitement. We consistently
enjoyed high levels of resolution and
plenty of precision throughout the
frequency range. Given a few days to
run-in, the Talismann v2 cartridge
complements these qualities by
76 www.whathif.com
2 Magnetic arm bearing Unusually, the arm is
not physically attached to its mounting but
instead held in place by magnetic force. This is to
avoid noise caused by friction, but does mean the
arm is prone to ‘wobble’ if you’re too rough with it.
Clearaudio employs a
DC motor with a micro
infrared sensor to
regulate platter speed
producing a convincingly neutral sound
yet remaining informative and
entertaining with it.
A spin of Nat King Cole’s Nature Boy
shows off the Clearaudio’s clear and
insightful midrange. There’s a good dose
of body and refinement to Cole’s smooth
vocals, but enough analysis to reveal the
nuances in his delivery as well. This
turntable package can relax when the
music demands too.
From strength to strength
Clearaudio has long been a strong
contender at the high end of the
turntable market and this Ovation
3 Carbon fbre arm Strength, rigidity and good
damping are the key stregths of carbon fbre.
In this application it looks good too. The signal wire
runs connection-free from the needle to the phono
plugs to minimise interference along the way.
package simply reinforces that tradition.
It’s beautifully made, pleasing on the eye
and a pleasure to use. Most of all it’s
about as fuss-free as turntables get, yet
is still able to compete with the very best
at the price when it comes to sound
quality. Recommended? You bet.
Consider if you want a beautifully
engineered, great-sounding deck
Highlight The ingenious use of magnetic
bearings for the main platter and arm
Rating ★ ★★ ★★
FOR Build and fnish; innovative engineering;
energetic sound; detail resolution and precision
AGAINST No suspension, so needs to be
placed with care for optimal results
VERDICT This terrifc all-rounder brilliantly
combines innovation and fne sound quality
 Stunningly Oh … I Wasn’t
simple Supposed To
Eat Them For

Breathtakingly Lunch?

brilliant

Reach new
sonic heights Meaner, smoother, more
dynamic, and not hungry …
at least for a little while.
DragonFly v1.2 £129

“The new version of the DragonFly costs a third less than the
original model, yet it sounds even better. It seems, for now,
that there’s no competing with that combination.”
- What Hi Fi? Sound & Vision, February 2014

USB DAC + Preamp + Headphone Amp

Replaces your computer’s existing audio output,
feeding much more beautiful sound to your:
t Headphones and Earbuds
buds
t Desktop Powered Speakers
eakers
t AV Receiver, Preamp or
Power Amp

High Fidelity Storage,

Streamer and Server
www.sygnifi.co.uk
01732 765157

All pre-r
pre-recorded
re-recor
ecorded music is subject
ject to copyright law
Sony VPL-VW500ES
‘‘This technology is a
massive advance on HD’’
■ Sony VPL-VW500ES Projector
■ £8500 ★★★★ ★
E
very time we test a 4k-capable
product such as this, we get ever
more impatient for the 4k/Ultra HD
bandwagon to gain proper momentum.
It’s taken a while, but the signs are
finally looking positive, with a fast-
growing range of products capable of
displaying these high-resolution images.
It seems things are moving on the
software side too. Sony launched its 4K
Video Unlimited streaming service late
last year in the US, and Netflix launches
its version this year.
As with Sony’s first 4K projector, the
VW1000ES, the 500ES’s resolution is
slightly odd for home cinema: 4096 x
2160 pixels. This makes the aspect ratio
The increased detail, and of course the Sony’s
ability to display it, means that even complex
scenes such as a dense forest or a view of a
modern city are shown with terrifc precision
17:9, which means you’ll have black bars
with both conventional widescreen and
cinemascope. That’s a shame, since full
use isn’t made of the resolution available.
Technologies combined
Take a look inside and you’ll find an
SXRD display. SXRD is Sony’s version of
LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) – an
alternative to DLP and LCD technologies.
Think of it as combining elements of
both and you won’t be far wrong.
We love 4k. Even with limited
amounts of test material, it’s obvious
that this technology is a massive
advance on traditional Full HD. The
difference in resolution is startlingly
78 www.whathif.com
obvious. Subtle textures such as the
grain on one of the beams of a timber-
clad building are easy to make out and
stay stable even when the camera
moves. Colours such as red and green
that usually give displays such trouble
are vivid, but subtle and natural.
A new level of precision
The increased detail, and of course the
VW500ES’s ability to display it, means
that even complex scenes such as a
dense forest or a view of a modern city
packed with skyscrapers and moving
traffic are shown with terrific precision.
The edges of objects are crisp without
looking artificially highlighted (as they
do on some other 4k products we’ve
seen), and the increase in clarity even
improves the apparent depth of images
to a point where we wonder if the
compromises inherent in 3D are worth it
when 2D looks so multi-dimensional.
We watch a Blu-ray of Stoker and are
pleased by the Sony’s finesse with
colours. Skin tones look natural and
difficult-to-reproduce stuff such as grass
and trees are handled with skill.
We have no issue with contrast either
– the projector copes well with scenes
that include bright and dark elements in
the same frame. In absolute terms, we
think the projector could go darker with
blacks – certainly our usual reference,
the Panasonic PT-AT6000E (£3000,
p70), is more surefooted in this respect.
The Panasonic also shows up a slight
instability with fast motion and the loss
of precision with the finest of details.
We move to the 3D Blu-ray of Life Of Pi
and are taken with this Sony’s skill. It’s
pretty convincing, with lots of detail,
rich but believable colours and nicely
layered 3D. It’s just a shame Sony doesn’t
supply any 3D glasses as standard. Each
pair will set you back an extra £50 or so.
Buyers are unlikely to watch much
standard-definition source material but,
given that the display has to make up
around 95 per cent of the information
seen on the screen, it’s surprising just
how decent the results are. The DVD of
Scott Pilgrim vs The World was more
than watchable, if not entirely enjoyable.
This is a hugely capable projector that
is more than able to deliver on the The Sony is part of a
brilliance of 4k. It’s good with Full HD rising tide of 4K kit,
and the software is
material too. It’s a pricey proposition,
but one that points the way to an appearing now too
enticing future. We can’t wait.
consider if You’re an early adopter and
positively must have a 4k projector
Highlight Watching this Sony in full fow
with 4k material. It’s stunningly good
Rating ★★★★
FOR Performs superbly with 4k source
material; fnesse with colours; precision in
defning outlines; easy to set up; good with 3D
AGAINST Still an expensive proposition; some
cheaper non-4k rivals are better with Blu-ray
VERDIcT A hugely tempting proposition. It
sets a high bar for 4k picture quality
Tech specs
Type SXRD Connectivity
Aspect ratio 17:9
Throw ratio 1.38-2.83
Resolution 4096 x
1 HDMI inputs These are 2.0 rated, but
not specifed to the limits of the standard.
We’ll have to wait and see whether this is a
2160
Contrast 200,000:1 limitation once commercial software arrives.
Brightness We had no issue with our test material.
1700 lumens
Fan noise 26dB
Inputs 2 x HDMI
Dimensions (hwd)
2 LAN connection This is solely for
system-linking purposes, not for
streaming video from a NAS device.
20 x 50 x 46cm
Weight 14kg
3 Side issue We think it slightly odd to
site the connections on the side rather
than round the back, but Sony has form here; 2 3
1
the VPL-HW55ES (see p71) does the same.

www.whathif.com 79
MovIeS + MuSIc + gAMeS
PLAY LIST
The movies, music and games to test your system
Out this month...
Superb space thriller never lets up
Gravity If there ever was a film that could
Blu-Ray make up for the rubbish 3D we’ve
Out now seen over the years, it’s Gravity.
Finally there’s a good reason to
★★★★★
have things flying in your face. It is
a tale of astronauts stranded in
space, repeatedly getting battered
by orbiting debris.
Far from a gimmick, the 3D does
a fine job of enhancing immersion.
The opening shot alone – a slow
Extra Features pan of Earth and its shifting layers
- Collision Point: The Race to Clean Up of cloud – is mesmerising.
Space (narrated by Ed Harris) A Blu-ray at home may never
- Aningaaq (Jonás Cuarón’s short flm) match the full IMAX experience
- Gravity: Mission Control (it’s a lot darker, for a start) but
- Shot breakdowns Gravity is nonetheless the best use
of 3D we’ve seen. That being said,
Duration 91m it’s just as scintillating in 2D,
Audio English: DTS-HD and you benefit from a brighter,
Master Audio 5.1 sharper picture.
Picture 2.40:1, 1080p And then there’s the sound. All
this floating around means sound
Picture sources are rarely stationary. This
Sound will challenge the accuracy of your
Extras system’s sound effects placement.
80 www.whathif.com
The film? It’s a workout, plain
and simple. For the best part of 91
minutes, Gravity tries its hardest
to keep heart-rates elevated.
It succeeds. What you get is a
series of set pieces, each one as
visually arresting as the next.
Tension ramps up quickly as
machines break and oxygen levels
count down.
Beautifully shot, great sound
The cinematography plays a huge
part. Long, coherent takes are
effective at drawing you in. And
just as you feel a little settled,
perspectives change.
Occasionally the film switches
to first-person view, inside the
helmet of an astronaut spinning
out of control, hands flailing out to
grab anything. We wouldn’t expect
much claustrophobia in space, but
in this case it’s hard not to tense
up. It’s less film, more survival
experience, and it’s exhilarating.
When it comes to the story, it’s
thinner than a wafer on a diet.
Gravity invests so much in keeping
your buttocks clenched that
there’s little room for character
development or deeper narratives.
George Clooney has little to do
but be his usual charming self. He
doesn’t get much in the way of
context, and serves as a source of
irrelevant (but funny) remarks.
Sandra Bullock gets a meatier
role as the panicky novice who
gets to fret and despair. There’s a
vague attempt to introduce a back
story, presumably to bring in an
element of emotional baggage, but
this is half-heartedly added and
swiftly forgotten.
But that’s the point of the film.
Gravity rarely lets up long enough
to allow for proper breathing, let
alone in-depth contemplation.
This is an unashamedly visceral,
technically impressive thrill ride,
and everyone should have a go.

Spotify highlights Join us on Spotify whf.cm/playlist2014
Kavinsky: Nightcall
This is the soundtrack to
a flm as-yet unmade. That
or it’s the soundtrack to every single
flm of the 80s.
Music
Download, CD, vinyl
St Vincent
St Vincent
Out now
★★★★★
Dues thoroughly paid as a member of
The Polyphonic Spree and as a
member of Sufan Stevens’ touring
band, Annie Clark has three-and-a-
half albums as St Vincent under her
belt. This new, eponymous release is
her frst since a move to Republic
Records and it’s every bit as
immediate, as inventive and as ornery
as the recordings that preceed it.
‘Crunchy’ is a good word to
describe the sound of St Vincent. Also
‘squelchy’, ‘mannered’ and ‘afecting’
will likely crop up too. Like a less
desperate-to-impress Alison
Listen to it this way
The system
Naim Nait 5si £925 ★★★★★
Yes it’s the thick end of a thousand pounds, but
it sounds every penny’s-worth
Naim CD5si £1000 ★★★★★
Yes it’s even closer to a grand than its partnering
amp, but nevertheless it’s great value
ATC SCM11 £1200 ★★★★★
An object lesson in building uncompromised
standmounting speakers
Venetian Snares: Öngyilkos
Vasárnap Honestly, who goes
the time and trouble of choosing
a stage-name if they’re born and
raised as Aaron Funk?
GAMES, MoviES
& FoRTHCoMiNG
RELEASES
p82
>
Goldfrapp, or like a younger and more
female David Bowie during his
late-70s art-rock apogee, or like a
sober Boards Of Canada with melody
and emotion bolted on, St Vincent is a
restless, turbulent collection of songs
overfowing with flthy analogue
Moog sounds and unexpected
melodic twists-and-turns.
Unexpected angles
From malformed electro-glam opener
Rattlesnake through Laurie-
Anderson-meets-Talking-Heads
Digital Witness to squint-eyed ballad
I Prefer Your Love, St Vincent is built,
origami-like, of unexpected angles
and unlikely materials.
Even in its simplest moment, St
Vincent is a layered, painstaking
production that demands extensive
tonal and textural variation from your
system. It also demands unblinking
midrange fdelity, controlled low-end
wallop and deft rhythmic ability. If
you have that covered, this is one of
the albums of the year so far.
Specifcations
Duration 40m 09s
Standout track Birth In Reverse
Jittery as well as crunchy, squelchy
and so on. Thrilling and unsettling.
St Vincent needs
superb midrange
fdelity: this delivers
Gang Starr: Ex-girl To Next Girl
“My homeboys told me to drop her
‘cause it would be to my beneft. She
used to say I’d better quit hanging
with those derelicts…”
Download, CD, vinyl
the war on drugS
Lost in the dream
Out 18th March
★★★
It’s not heaping faint praise on Lost in
the Dream to say it’s built on the sort
of traditional principles of coherent
songwriting and arranging your father
would recognise and admire. Nor is it
unfattering to suggest The War On
Drugs sound like a better-organised,
more disciplined and less spiky
version of Mercury Rev or British Sea
Power or (whisper it) Grandaddy.
These observations strike at the
heart of all that’s polite and
occasionally rather forgettable about
Lost In The Dream, though. At its best
(Under The Pressure, The Haunting
Listen to it this way
The system
Marantz PM6005 £300 ★★★★★
The latest in a distinguished line of budget-
conscious Marantz amps and maybe the best yet
Marantz CD6005 £350 ★★★★★
A perfect visual and sonic match for the amplifer,
and available for quite a bit less than we’re quoting
Q Acoustics 2020i £165 ★★★★★
Astonishingly accomplished and endlessly
listenable entry-level heroes
PLAYLIST
Donny Hathaway: Jealous Guy
A wholehearted live performance,
during which Donny does his level
best to turn a confessional nursery
rhyme into a soul juggernaut.
Idle) this is an eloquent and insistent
recording. But when it treads water in
the generic-indie end of the pool (Red
Eyes, An Ocean In Between The
Waves) it doesn’t even pretend it’s
doing otherwise.
A decent demo disc
As a weapon to demonstrate the
awesome prowess of your hi-f, mind
you, Lost In The Dream has plenty to
recommend it. It’s far from the most
dynamic recording you ever heard,
but the production is open, spacious
and obviously painstaking. There’s
careful layering of sounds and efects,
so soundstaging and stereo focus is
absolutely vital. The periodic
appearance of burbling electronics
and gammy-legged drum machines
make low-frequency extension and
efcient handling of transient sounds
essential too. Have a listen to
Disappearing – beat-y, diaphanous
and streamlined – as a cover-all
illustration of exactly what’s required.
Specifcations
Duration 60m 40s
Standout track Under The Pressure.
Everything that’s good and
interesting about Lost In The Dream is
here, and in less than nine minutes.
Outstanding value for
a system that will do
your music proud
www.whathif.com 81
Movies + Music + gaMes
Movie shorts
Blue Jasmine
Woody Allen’s very loose remake of A
Streetcar Named Desire is a forcefully
dramatic comedy thanks to a career-
best performance by Cate Blanchett.
On-screen
System tester
Thor: The Dark World
Blu-ray
Out now
★★★★
How much fun can you have with a
massive hammer? Quite a lot, it
seems, when a Norse god wields it.
Thor: The Dark World is the second
outing in Marvel’s next batch of
superhero flms, and it is a riot.
The universe is once again
threatened by forgettable terrorists
from outer space. Natalie Portman
fnds some convoluted way to get in
trouble, and Thor (Chris Hemsworth)
Watch it this way
The system
Sony VPL-HW55ES
£2800 ★★★★★
The best things in life aren’t free
Marantz UD7007
£700 ★★★★★
The fnest Blu-ray player around
82 www.whathif.com
Bad Grandpa
The fourth Jackass flm has
Johnny Knoxville pranking the public
as a hapless octogenarian. It’s utterly
pointless but occasionally amusing.
saves the day by smashing up one
of London’s less-famous (but
equally scenic) tourist attractions.
The story is ludicrous. Nobody
will pretend otherwise. But it does
give Thor and Loki (Tom Hiddleston)
plenty of time to fesh out their
sibling rivalry, which has always
been the highlight of this franchise.
Along the way there are some
unexpected laughs (Thor navigates
the London Underground), and
spectacular set pieces that take
cues from Game of Thrones and
Doctor Who. It’s an odd but efective
mix, best served with popcorn.
Yamaha RX-A3030
£2000 ★★★★★
A big accomplishment at the price
KEF R100 5.1
£2850 ★★★★★
An absolutely fearless speaker package
The Fifth Estate Game of Thrones, Season 3
The WikiLeaks Movie tries too George R R Martin’s epic fantasy
hard to dramatise recent history, but books continue to be adapted, which
Benedict Cumberbatch nonetheless means more food, sex, fghting and
gives a remarkable performance. dragons. Hugely entertaining stuf.
Games
Dungeon Keeper
Android/iOS Out now
★
The dark side of free-to-play, this
mobile remake of strategy classic
Dungeon Keeper is so heavily tweaked
towards forcing you to spend money
on microtransactions that it no longer
works as it should. Most of the strategy
and almost all consequence is gone and
all you’re left with is an endless grind.
Titanfall
Xbox One Out now
★★★★
Call of Duty with robots! This
multiplayer-only FPS both is and isn’t
that. Playing on foot is free-fowing, as
you use jetpacks to vault onto buildings
and run along walls; piloting a mech is
slow but satisfyingly powerful. A tweak
to the CoD formula, though, rather
than the revolution some predicted.
The Last of Us: Left Behind
PS3 Out now
★★★★★
£12 for some DLC that you can fnish in
around two hours might seem like poor
value, but when it’s brilliant DLC for the
amazing The Last of Us it’s completely
worth it. This Ellie-centric prequel is fun
in its own right, but the way it expands
the main game’s story and characters is
the real thrill.
World of Tanks
Xbox 360 Out now
★★★★
Now this is free-to-play done right. The
Xbox 360 version of the PC hit is a bit
limited in terms of maps at this point,
but it will grow, and the team-on-team
tank battles already work brilliantly on a
controller. It’s an odd game but a fun
one, and the microtransactions aren’t
forced down your neck.

What we are waiting for...
Movies (Cinema) The Zero
Theorem (14th March) Terry Gilliam
makes another dystopian satire, this
time with a computer programmer
trying to work out the meaning of life.
March in Hi-Def
The best on the box
Drama
Da Vinci’s Demons
Fox HD – 28th March, 10pm
Need a medieval fantasy fix while
waiting for Game of Thrones to
return? How about this sexed-up,
action-packed and CGI-tastic
version of Leonardo da Vinci as a
25-year-old man? Set in the glory
days of the Renaissance in Italy
(which looks a lot like Wales), the
show takes heavy liberties in the
name of entertainment, but does a
fantastic job in displaying
animated versions of Leonardo’s
inventions and drawings of
military and flying machines.
There are secret mystic societies
and political intrigue thrown, but
the focus of the story rests on the
leather-clad brooding Leonardo
grappling with his genius mind,
and tracking down a mysterious
book and his mother. In the
second series premiere, we see
Leonardo travelling to Peru (still
Movies (Cinema) Captain America:
Winter Soldier (28th March)
One of the more interesting Marvel
storylines gets adapted, giving Steve
Rogers a beefy espionage thriller.
Wales) to find a secret that will put
an end to all wars. Ridiculous and
over the top, it’s an enjoyable romp.
Southland
More 4 – Thursdays, 11pm
A far cry from HBO’s stylised True
Detective or the action-packed
plot-driven NYPD Blue or CSI cop
procedurals, Southland takes an
unflinchingly raw and realistic
look at the day-to-day life of
LAPD’s police officers. Which
makes it all the more intriguing
and brutal as these patrol officers
and homicide detectives are
revealed to be startlingly human
as they tackle personal problems
while dealing with mundane
traffic offenders and violent gangs.
Brooklyn Nine Nine
E4 – Thursdays, 9pm
If you want a different take on the
police genre, then this light-
hearted action-comedy series will
tickle your fancy. Already touted
Music (Download, CD, vinyl) Elton
John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
(24th March) Hopefully this time the
drums won’t sound like cardboard
boxes being played with sausages.
The show takes heavy liberties in the
name of entertainment. Ridiculous and
over the top, it’s an enjoyable romp
as the best comedy on TV right
now and nabbing two Golden
Globe awards earlier this year, this
goofy cop show will leave you in
stitches. Set in the fictional 99th
Precinct of the NYPD, part of the
success is the odd-couple pairing
of the new strict, no-nonsense
Captain Holt (played with deadpan
genius by Andre Braugher) and the
childish but talented detective
Jake Peralta (The Lonely Island’s
Andy Samberg). Playing with
well-established police and
workplace TV genres and giving a
fresh spin to eclectic characters,
this is on our must-watch list.
Sport
2014 Formula 1
Championship
BBC One HD & Sky Sports F1 HD
16th & 30th March
We start off the F1 calendar in
sunny Australia and then stormy
Malaysia, with all drivers
PLaYLisT
Music (Download, CD) Tokyo
Police Club – Forcefeld (23rd
March) The ofce sweepstake is now
well under way: will the music be as
thrilling as the name?
determined to topple Sebastian
Vettel from his throne. We’ll also
get to see what effect all the
controversial new regulations will
have on the actual racing. With
engine changes (gone from 2.4
litre V8s to 1.2 litre V6s), lower
noses on the car, and the much-
maligned double points being
awarded in the final race – there
are plenty of surprises in store.
2014 MotoGP Championship
BT Sports HD – 23rd March
It’s less about rules and more
about driver changes in MotoGP.
Youngest-champ-ever Marc
Marquez will be looking to defend
his title from Yamaha’s Jorge
Lorenzo (who came so close last
year), as well as from some fresh
talent from Moto2: 2013 champion
Pol Espargo and runner-up Scott
Redding join the big leagues this
year. Cal Crutchlow’s first year in
red will also be closely followed
– will he be able to tame the Ducati?
www.whathif.com 83
FREE!
AKG
K451
★★★ ★★
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Musically
the K451’s sound.
l, doing
they’re exceptiona
rating
a great job of sepa
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 The No.1 source of clear, expert and independent advice
The No.1 source of clear, expert and independent advice

BUYER’S GUIDE
NEW
There are various types Just what is High-res audio, QR (quick response) codes
For full reviews, get a barcode scanner app
of noise-cancelling how do you get it, and who on your smartphone. Scan these little
squares and they’ll take you to the relevant
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bottom of all the relevant tech. down on the next big audio thing.

All the latest kit, Exciting new additions...

all the latest ratings…

Welcome to the UK’s best guide to TVs, hi-fi, home
cinema and mobile, with star ratings for more than 1500
products. Where other magazines rely on isolated
writers reviewing in a range of locations, our Sony NWZ-ZX1 -
“Purely in terms of audio performance, it is the
star ratings are decided by an expert team best portable music player we’ve reviewed.”
p140
of reviewers working together, in a state-of-
the-art testing facility.
Within this guide you’ll find all our
favourite four- and five-star products –
including Award-winners – to help you
pick the best kit for your budget.
Dali Kubik Free -
“The guys at Dali have struck gold
Kobina Monney, Buyer’s Guide Editor with the Kubik Free”
p129

Inside

lcd, led & plasma TVs 94 radios 113 soundBars 137 digital interconnects 146
Home cinema Hi-fi speakers 114 Network systems analogue interconnects 147
Blu-ray players 97 stereo amplifiers 122 media serVers 138 mains products 148
projectors 98 preamps 123 media streamers 138 speaker caBles 148
aV receiVers & amplifiers 99 power amps 124 Set-top boxes 140 speaker stands 150
suBwoofers 100 ipod docks 128 Smartphones, tablets & MP3 players aV & Hi-fi racks 151
surround speakers 102 wireless speakers 129 music/Video players 140 HeadpHone amps 151
Hi-Fi Headphones 130 taBlets 142 pHono amps 152
cd players 110 All-in-one systems smartpHones 142 cartridges 152
dacs 111 stereo systems 136 Accessories
turntaBles 112 surround systems 136 Hdmi caBles 144 >

www.whathif.com 87
 Your essential system set-ups

best buys
Get the
best kit
for your
budGet

Blu-ray PlayErs rECEIVErs sPEaKErs displays CD PlayErs aMPlIFIErs sPEaKErs

TOTA TOTA
£1350L £865L

Sony BDp-S4100 yAMAHA RX-V375 Q ACouStiCS Panasonic MARAntZ Rotel RA-10 Q ACouStiCS
★★★★★ ★★★★★ 2000i 5.1 pACk TX-L32E6B CD6005 ★★★★★ 2020i
£95 £250 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ £350 ★★★★★
Simply astonishing This is the perfect £625 £380 £350 Our 2012 stereo amp £165
performance and entry-level option Our 2013 Award If you’re after a great This incredibly Product of the Year Refned, exciting
pictures for less for those upgrading winner produces all-rounder in both musical player ofers has a level of control and detailed – the
than £100. Smart to fve-channel sound with picture quality and detail in spades, not and poise above and 2020is deliver an
functionality too: sound on a budget. impressive scale for smart features, this to mention a great beyond what we’d endlessly listenable
you can’t go wrong… It’s a brilliant buy. movies and music. TV is it. Splendid. way with dynamics. expect at the price. performance.

TOTA TOTA
£2680L £2925L

Sony BDp-S790 Sony StR- DAli ZenSoR 1 5.1 Panasonic nAiM nAiM tAnnoy DC6 t Se
★★★★★ Dn1040 ★★★★★ TX-P42GT60 CD5si nAit 5si ★★★★★
£200 ★★★★★ £980 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ £1000
What a bargain! Not £500 This package is as £1000 £1000 £925 Purposeful looks
only is this a superb Punch, detail and entertaining as it is Truly deep blacks, Exceptional player, The perfect partner mate with a solid
2D and 3D Blu-ray power combine in insightful, delivering beautiful colours combining superb for its sibling CD sound to produce
player, it is also the this great receiver – all the drama and and winning smart sound with great player, this amp just a pair of exciting,
frst to upscale to 4K and it’s good with punch we could features – this TV is value for money. as good value, and agile and nuanced
ultra high defnition. stereo music, too. hope for. Superb. a tough act to beat. An Award winner. great sounding. foorstanders.

TOTA
£7650L TOTA
£6100L

MARAntZ yAMAHA keF R100 5.1 SoNY RokSAn CASpiAn RokSAn CASpiAn SpenDoR A6R
uD7007 RX-A3030 ★★★★★ VPL-HW55ES M2 CD plAyeR M2 AMpliFieR ★★★★★
★★★★★ ★★★★★ £2850 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ £2500
£700 £2000 Best Buy for 2013, £2800 £1800 £1800 Attacking, detailed
This universal player As muscular as it is the R100 5.1 is Superb in 2D, this Combines bite, The perfect partner and balanced,
is fantastic with detailed, this amp simply superb with projector also excels refnement and for the M2 CD these foorstanders
Blu-rays, CDs and will make you feel as demanding flm at 3D. Edges are rhythm better than player. This amp is demonstrate
even SACD and if you’re sitting in a soundtracks – and is sharp, pictures have anything else we’ve dynamic, detailed a winning way
DVD-A formats. large cinema hall. great in stereo too. depth and stability. heard at this price. and entertaining. with dynamics.

Complete your home cinema system Grow your hi-fi system

Set-top boxeS CompaCt SpKRS FUll-SIZe SpKRS SUppoRtS tURntableS RadIoS mICRo SYStemS
Sky+Hd 2tb tannoy HtS101 Q acoustics 2000i target Cl430 pro-Ject essential II pure evoke F4 denon d-m39dab
£250 £400 5.1 pack £625 £190 £200 £170 £310
Humax HdR-1000S Q acoustics Q7000i dali Zensor 1 5.1 atacama eris eco Rega Rp3/elys2 Geneva WorldRadio marantz m-CR610
(500Gb) £220 £900 £980 £460 £550 dab+ £270 £500
Humax dtR-t1010 b&W mt60d b&W Cm9 theatre Custom design FS Rega Rp6/exact arcam t32 naim UnitiQute 2
£230 £1950 £4200 104 Signature £200 £1000 £480 £1150
pRoJeCtoRS SUbWooFeRS SoUndbaRS Remote ContRolS tabletS HeadpHoneS aUdIo CableS
epson eH-tW5910 b&W aSW610 philips Htl 5120 one For all Zapper Google nexus 7 aKG K451 audioquest Flx-
£900 £400 £250 £10 £200 (16Gb) £50 Slip 14/4 £5.80/m
epson b&W aSW610xp philips Htl 9100 logitech Harmony Google nexus 10 Grado atlas elements
eH-tW4400 £2000 £700 £600 one £125 £390 (32Gb) SR80i £135 Integra £45
Sony Vpl-HW55eS Velodyne Spl-1000 monitor audio logitech Harmony apple ipad air beyerdynamic Supra USb 2.0
£2800 Ultra £1400 aSb-2 £1000 1000 £280 £480 (32Gb) mmx 101 ie£100 £30

88 www.whathif.com
LCD, LED & plasma TVs 94 LCD, LED & PLASMA TVS

LCD,LED&plasmaTVs
LCD Once only in smaller screens; now the most common type of panel
LED This refers to the kind of backlighting used on an LCD panel
Plasma The rival to LCD, now usually only seen on larger screens

The shortlist

AWARDWINNER
Hannspree SL22DMBB
“It may be light on features, but it excels in
performance. If you want a small, no-frillsTV,
this Hannspree is an excellent choice.”
AWARDWINNER
Panasonic TX-P42GT60B Samsung PS51F5500
“Panasonic may be vague on the future of “A superb all-rounder with a fantastic picture
plasma, but if this TV is anything to go by, the and a strong feature set. At this price you
tech has never been better.” won’t find a better 50in set.”

Alsoconsider

Dimensions
Passive 3D
Resolution

(hwd, cm)
Active 3D

Freeview
Size (in)

Freesat
Smart

HDMI
Type
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
Alba AMKDVD22W 130 11.13/GT ★★★★★ A capable set but there are better options for broadcastTV LED 22 1920x1080 ● 1 38x52x17

Celcus LCD40S913FHD 250 02.13/ST ★★★★★ Big screen on a budget: a real supermarket special LED 40 1920x1080 ● 3 97x22x66

Finlux 26F7030 240 12.12/GT ★★★★★ A very fine and flexible passive 3D 26in screen LED 26 1920x1080 ● ● 2 29x65x45

Finlux 32F8030-T 280 02.13/ST ★★★★★ Great picture and the latest online features: bargain LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 4 49x78x4

Finlux 32F7020-T 280 09.13/ST ★★★★★ Patchy 3D but still worth a lookfor budget buyers LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 4 48x77x4

Finlux 40F8073-T 330 03.14/GT ★★★★★ ATV with a sharp, exciting picture at a terrificprice LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● 3 55x93x4

Hannspree SL22DMBB 135 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Best 22inTV, Awards 2013 LCD 22 1920x1080 ● 1 53x39x17

Hannspree AD32UMMB 220 02.13/ST ★★★★★ A solid option set for mainly watchingTV LED 32 1366x768 ● 3 44x73x7

Kogan LULED24DVDYA 134 02.13/ST ★★★★★ This versatile little set is fine value for money LED 24 1920x1080 ● 2 38x58x5

Kogan KULED22XXXYA 110 11.13/GT ★★★★★ Cheap and chearful and all the better for it LCD 22 1920x1080 ● 2 39x54x17

Linsar 22LED906T 230 12.12/GT ★★★★★ A great 22in set with a DVD player and Freeview HD LED 22 1920x1080 ● 2 38x53x4

LG 32LS5600 299 02.13/ST ★★★★★ This budgetTV gets the basics right LED 32 1920x1080 ● 3 46x75x36

LG 50PA650T 499 01.13/GT ★★★★★ Good picture and price, but we’d like more detail Plasma 50 1920x1080 ● 3 70x117x5

LG 32LN575V 400 09.13/ST ★★★★★ A decent lookingTV with credible smart and streaming features LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 3 45x74x8

PanasonicTX-L24X5B 260 12.12/GT ★★★★★ Smooth and accomplished picture with so-so colours LED 24 1920x1080 ● 2 37x57x5

PanasonicTX-L24X6B 300 11.13/GT ★★★★★ If you can stretch your budget then thisTV offers great value for money LED 24 1366x768 ● 2 42x58x17

PanasonicTX-L32E5B 400 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Great value if you’re not fussy about 3D LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 4 47x76x5

PanasonicTX-L32E6B 380 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Best 32inTV, Awards 2013 LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 3 43x72x5

PanasonicTX-P50X50B 453 01.13/GT ★★★★★ Hard to beat on performance per pound Plasma 50 1024x768 ● 2 72x118x8

PanasonicTX-P50X60B 430 03.14/GT ★★★★★ Compromised, but this Plasma is an admirable effort nonetheless Plasma 50 1024x768 ● 2 72x118x8

Philips 22PFL3517T/12 270 12.12/GT ★★★★★ An accomplished set with Freeview HD and YouTube LED 22 1920x1080 ● ● 3 32x51x5

Philips 32PFL4258T 480 09.13/ST ★★★★★ A talentedTV with excellent picture quality LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 3 45x74x2

Samsung UE32ES5500 400 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Exciting, but the same money could buy better LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 3 45x74x5

Samsung UE40F6400 480 03.14/GT ★★★★★ A stunning, feature-ladenTV from Samsung. Recommended LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 54x93x5

Sony KDL-26EX553 400 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Capable enough for a kitchen or child’s bedroom LED 26 1366x768 ● ● 2 41x64x6

Sony KDL-32W653A 430 09.13/ST ★★★★★ Its picture lacks subtlety but thisSony is still a worthwhile option LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 2 44x73x7

Technika 22-212i 168 02.13/ST ★★★★★ Great value, with plenty of features LED 22 1366x768 ● ● 2 37x54x1

Toshiba 23RL933B 230 12.12/GT ★★★★★ Feature-packed but needs slightly better colour LED 23 1920x1080 ● ● 3 34x55x5

Toshiba 32L6353 450 09.13/FT ★★★★★ A decentTV for the money but response times can be sluggish LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 4 44x76x7

Toshiba 40L6353 400 03.14/GT ★★★★★ Clunky interface aside, this is a decentTV with a great HD picture LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● 4 54x92x27

Toshiba 40TL868 480 03.12/GT ★★★★★ Formidable value meets good performance LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 4 63x92x24

£500-£2000
LG 32LM620T 550 11.12/GT ★★★★★ A good effort with tough competition LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 47x75x4

LG 42LM660T 750 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Good screen, good price, tough competition LED 42 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 57x95x3

PanasonicTX-L32ET5B 530 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Price drop pushes this firmly into five-star territory LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● 4 47x76x5

PanasonicTX-L42ET50B 900 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Good effort, great images, beaten by direct rivals LED 42 1920x1080 ● ● 4 60x99x4

PanasonicTX-L42FT60B 1100 08.13/ST ★★★★★ LikeableTV with a fine picture and great features LED 42 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 56x96x4

94 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 LCD, LED & PLASMA TVS 95

LCD, LED & plasma TVs

TELEVISIONScontinued

Dimensions
Passive 3D
Resolution

(hwd, cm)
Active 3D

Freeview
Size (in)

Freesat
Smart

HDMI
Type
Product £ Tested Verdict
Philips 42PFL6008 1000 08.13/ST ★★★★★ Impressive picture with comfortable 3D – a strong contender LED 42 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 56x95x3

Samsung PS51E550 850 09.12/GT ★★★★★ A pedigree 50in plasma at a steal of a price Plasma 51 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 72x120x6

Samsung UE32ES6800 700 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Great, feature-packedTV but with tough competition LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 45x75x5

Samsung UE40ES6800 950 07.12/FT ★★★★★ Good specand looks, but the backlight isn’t great LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 67x92x33

Samsung UE40F6500 900 08.13/ST ★★★★★ Not a class leader but offers a lot for your money LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 91x60x27

Samsung UE32F6400 500 09.13/ST ★★★★★ Some niggles but a desirable set with excellent catch-upTV features LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 44x74x5

Sony KDL-32HX753 580 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Best 32inTV, Awards 2012 LED 32 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 47x76x6

Sony KDL-40HX723 650 03.12/GT ★★★★★ A super smartTV that’s full of frills LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 59x94x4

Toshiba 42VL963 750 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Good set, with lots of features, at a reasonable price LED 42 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 58x100x3

Finlux 47S9100-T 800 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Good picture, decent 3D and a low price. Worth a look LED 47 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 67x112x4

LG 47LM670T 1350 05.12/FT ★★★★★ Great spec, great looks, great performance LED 47 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 63x106x3

LG 47LM860V 1600 08.12/ST ★★★★★ Lots to like: top-notch HD pics and easy-going 3D LED 47 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 63x106x3

LG 55LM760T 1700 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Scores on value and features. A solid all-rounder LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 72x123x34

PanasonicTX-P42GT50B 1200 10.12/GT ★★★★★ This sensational all-rounder remains a favourite Plasma 42 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 4 60x99x5

PanasonicTX-P42GT60B 1000 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Best 40-46inTV, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR Plasma 42 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 3 60x99x5

PanasonicTX-L47ET50B 1300 08.12/ST ★★★★★ This set gets plenty more right than it gets wrong LED 47 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 66x110x4

PanasonicTX-L47DT65B 1600 06.13/GT ★★★★★ User-friendly set with clean, detailed images. A stunner LED 47 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 3 63x107x4

PanasonicTX-L50ET60B 1300 05.13/FT ★★★★★ Solid telly but could perform better LCD 50 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 3 66x112x4

PanasonicTX-L50E6B 850 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Fine picture quality but there areTVs that give more for less LCD 50 1920x1080 ● ● 3 71x112x27

PanasonicTX-P50GT60B 1200 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Best premium 47-52inTV, Awards 2013 Plasma 50 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 3 70x117x5

PanasonicTX-P50VT50B 1900 07.12/FT ★★★★★ Stellar performance in every area from this Plasma Plasma 50 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 4 70x117x5

Philips 46PFL8007 1700 12.12/FT ★★★★★ A strong start for Philips’ new range LED 46 1920x1080 ● ● ● 5 67x104x21

Philips 47PFL6008 1200 06.13/GT ★★★★★ A few niggles but forgivable thanks to its brilliant picture quality LED 47 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 3 63x106x3

Philips 55PFL6007T 1500 01.13/FT ★★★★★ This should be on anyone’s big-screen shortlist LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 74x124x3

Samsung PS51F5500 680 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Best budget 47-52inTV, Awards 2013 Plasma 51 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 71x112x27

Samsung PS51E8000 1700 06.12/FT ★★★★★ A big-screen plasma that should be tried out Plasma 51 1920x1080 ● ● 3 71x119x5

Other brands available include: Panasonic ADVERT VALID UNTIL 09/04/2014. E&OE

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 96 LCD, LED & PLASMA TVS

TELEVISIONScontinued
LCD LED & plasma TVs

Dimensions
Passive 3D
Resolution

(hwd, cm)
Active 3D

Freeview
Size (in)

Freesat
Smart

HDMI
Type
Product £ Tested Verdict
£500-£2000
Samsung PS51F8500 1900 07.13/FT ★★★★★ A top-class plasma screen Plasma 51 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 74x119x6

Samsung UE40ES7000 1300 11.12/FT ★★★★★ A greatTV with dazzling looks and performance LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 55x91x38

Samsung UE40ES8000 1450 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Impressive features and HD picture, but pricey LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 54x91x3

Samsung UE46ES6800 1150 08.12/ST ★★★★★ A fine performer – but with strong competition LED 46 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 64x107x5

Samsung UE40F7000 1200 08.13/ST ★★★★★ A lovelyTV with a great picture and a wealth of smart features LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 4 90x58x24

Samsung UE46F7000 1600 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Great picture coupled with smart features make it one to watch LED 46 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 4 59x104x3

Sony KDL-40HX853 1000 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Best 40-42inTV, Awards 2012. PRODUCT OFTHEYEAR LED 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 57x94x4

Sony KDL-46HX753 1150 08.12/ST ★★★★★ A must-seeTV: superb performer for the price LED 46 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 65x108x5

Sony KDL-46HX853 1250 08.12/ST ★★★★★ Best 46-47inTV, Awards 2012 LED 46 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 64x108x3

Sony KDL-55HX853 1440 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Best 55inTV, Awards 2012 LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 77x129x3

Sony KDL-42W805A 1000 08.13/ST ★★★★★ A great-lookingTV with many strengths LED 42 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 58x97x6

Sony KDL-46W905 1550 09.13/FT ★★★★★ A very capableTV with stunning detail but the picture lacks vibrancy LCD 46 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 65x105x30

Up to £8000
Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 11 5250 01.14/GT ★★★★★ A truly luxuriousTV that delivers a great performance too LCD 40 1920x1080 ● ● ● 6 89x96x6

LG 47LM960V 2000 08.12/ST ★★★★★ An accomplished, covetableTV – but pricey LED 47 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 61x105x4

LG 55LA860W 2300 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Close but no cigar. A goodTV but the competition is strong LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 72x123x4

LG 55LM960V 3300 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Impressive, but let down by price and sound LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 77x122x4

LG 55LM980W 8000 01.14/FT ★★★★★ A great first OLED effort from LG OLED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 80x123x19

LG 65LM960W 5500 12.13/GT ★★★★★ Fantasticto look at, but lacks the detail of depth of rivals LED 65 3840x2140 ● ● ● ● 3 84x143x41

LG 84LM960V 22500 02.13/FT ★★★★★ Stunning with Ultra High Def, but ordinary elsewhere LED 84 3840x2160 ● ● 4 102x190x4

PanasonicTX-L47WT50B 2000 08.12/ST ★★★★★ Stylish, with real areas of expertise LED 47 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 4 63x107x3

PanasonicTX-P55VT65B 2000 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Best 55in+TV, Awards 2013 Plasma 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 3 77x132x5

PanasonicTX-L55WT65B 2470 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A good performer but there are more capable sets LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 3 72x123x3

PanasonicTX-P60ZT65B 3850 08.13/GT ★★★★★ An accomplished set, but not the bestTV pound-for-pound Plasma 60 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 3 83x140x5

PanasonicTX-P65ST50B 2500 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Best 60in+TV, Awards 2012 Plasma 65 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 89x151x5

PanasonicTX-P65WT600 5500 12.13/GT ★★★★★ A capable set that handles 4Kfootage very well LED 65 3840x2160 ● ● ● 4 86x147x6

Philips 46PFL9706 2300 05.12/GT ★★★★★ A great flatscreen from Philips LED 46 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 66x108x4

Philips 50PFL7956T 2000 09.12/GT ★★★★★ The best 21:9 set we’ve seen: brilliant for films LED 50 2560x1080 ● ● ● 4 58x124x3

Philips 55PFL8008 2500 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A greatTV from Philips LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 4 72x124x3

Philips 65PFL9708 4500 12.13/GT ★★★★★ Smart features aren’t as good we’d like but this is still a strong 4Kset LED 65 3840x2160 ● ● ● 5 84x146x4

Samsung KE55S9C 7000 01.14/GT ★★★★★ An excellent first step for large screen OLEDTVs OLED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 4 78x142x14

Samsung UE46ES8000 2000 05.12/GT ★★★★★ A benchmarkset for 2012 LED 46 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 61x104x3

Samsung UE55ES8000 2500 09.12/GT ★★★★★ A towering bruiser, with an added control twist LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 78x136x38

Samsung UE55F8000 2500 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Can’t keep up with the very best. Still a smart, user-friendly set LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● ● 4 71x122x4

Samsung UE65F9000 5000 01.14/GT ★★★★★ A talented set with few weakenesses to speak of LED 65 3840x2160 ● ● ● ● 4 84x146x4

Samsung PS64E8000 3000 09.12/GT ★★★★★ This is as smart as smartTV gets Plasma 64 1920x1080 ● ● ● 3 88x149x5

Sony KDL-55W905A 2400 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A great-lookingTV but a few issues knock it down a star LED 55 1920x1080 ● ● ● 4 72x124x6

Sony KD-65X9005A 5000 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Good looks and great sound but needs 4K material to shine LED 65 3840x2160 ● ● ● 4 90x168x10

Toshiba 55ZL2 7000 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Struggles at this price level. But it’s the future LED 55 3840x2160 ● ● ● 4 79x125x4

System killers... Blu-rays to test your kit!

Captain Phillips Gravity Rush Thor: The Dark World

While Captain Phillips is not the
most obvious of demo discs,
cinematographer Barry Ackroyd’s
use of a realistic colour palette,
naturally lit locations and the worn
in qualities of many of the film’s
sets will be a strong test for any
set-up to accurately replicate.
A demanding technical showcase
for any set-up. Afonso Cuaron’s use
of 3D is understated but gives
immersive depth to the space-set
action, while Steven Price’s
ambient/sound effect-inspired
score will give any 5.1 system a
thorough going over.
A stylised 70s-set racing drama
that’s full of bright colours that pop
with as much frequency as the
hairstyles. It’s in the audio where
Rush truly comes alive, with expert
stereo imaging and Hans Zimmer’s
propulsive score taking centre
stage in this DTS HD soundtrack.
Thor’s home of Asgard is rendered
in pleasing burnished browns and
golden hues and the ‘comic booky’
aesthetics lend themselves to good
contrasts. Blacks are well judged
along with skin tones, but even this
production can’t stop London from
looking grey and wet.

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 HOME CINEMA 97

Blu-ray players
Blu-rayplayers
Smart ability Extends the viewing choice beyond discs with apps like BBC iPlayer
Multichannel out Analogue outputs that feed high quality sound to a non-HDMI receiver
Twin HDMI outputs These are used if you have two displays, say a projector and a TV

The shortlist

AWARDWINNER AWARDWINNER
Sony BDP-S790 MarantzUD7007 Sony BDP-S4100

Multichannel out
Alsoconsider

Dimensions
Co-axial out
Optical out

(hwd,cm)
HDMI out
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
LG BP420 160 06.12/ST ★★★★★ An enjoyable and vibrant performance 1 1 0 No 4x43x19

PanasonicDMP-BBT01 279 08.12/FT ★★★★★ A good quality, stylish Blu-ray player 1 1 0 No 2.7x18x18

PanasonicDMP-BDT220 155 06.12/GT ★★★★★ Best Blu-ray player £100-175, Awards 2012 1 1 0 No 4x43x18

PanasonicDMP-BDT230 160 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Great picture and fine sound 1 1 0 No 4x43x18

PanasonicDMP-BDT330 200 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Lacks in the smart app area but performance elsewhere is terrific 2 1 0 No 4x43x18

PanasonicDMP-BDT320 220 05.12/FT ★★★★★ A superb Blu-ray spinner from Panasonic 1 1 0 No 3x43x18

PanasonicDMP-BDT500 300 07.12/FT ★★★★★ A truly captivating discspinner 2 1 1 8ch 6x43x24

NEW

The new 600 Series.

19 years in the making.
In time, everything changes. That’s
progress. The new 600 Series brings
19 years of Bowers & Wilkins engineering
advances, including the new Decoupled
Double Dome tweeters for amazingly
precise treble. But one thing hasn’t
changed: the new 600 Series offers the
same amazing value now as when the
award-winning original launched in 1995.

Other brands available include: SOME BRANDS AT NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL STORES. ADVERT VALID UNTIL 09/04/2014. E&OE

www.SSAV.com
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 98 HOME CINEMA

Multichannel out
BLU RAYPLAYERScontinued
Projectors | Blu-ray players

Dimensions
Co-axial out
Optical out

(hwd,cm)
HDMI out
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
Philips BDP3380 80 01.14/GT ★★★★★ A very good performer that lacks some smart features 1 0 1 No 4x41x21

Pioneer BDP-160 120 01.14/GT ★★★★★ This entry-level unit is pretty spartan, but it delivers an impressive performance 2 0 1 No 6x44x25

Pioneer BDP-450 225 01.12/FT ★★★★★ This budget deck is a real rival for the top performers 1 0 1 No 9x44x25

Pioneer BDP-LX55 350 03.12/ST ★★★★★ Essentially, you can’t go wrong with this discspinner 2 1 0 8ch 9x43x25

Samsung-BD-F6500 130 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Competitive but not the best in class 1 0 1 7ch 4x43x18

Sony BDP-S4100 80 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Best Blu-ray player up to £100, Awards 2013 1 0 1 No 4x36x20

Sony BDP-S5100 140 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Best Blu-ray player £100-£150, Awards 2013 1 0 1 No 4x36x20

Sony BDP-S390 90 11.12/FT ★★★★★ Best Blu-ray player up to £100, Awards 2012 1 0 1 No 4x20x23

Sony BDP-S490 110 12.12/FT ★★★★★ An excellent budget Blu-ray player that also does 3D 1 0 1 No 4x43x20

Sony BDP-S790 200 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Best Blu-ray player £150-£300, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR 2 1 1 No 4x43x19

Sony PlayStation 3 (2012) 250 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Super slim PS3 feels less special, but it’s still multi-talented 1 1 0 No 6x29x23

Sony PlayStation 4 349 02.14/FT ★★★★★ A great gaming machine that’s less spectacular when it comes to home entertainment 1 1 0 No 19x3x3

Xbox One 430 01.14/FT ★★★★★ As ambitious a game console as there has ever been, but yet to fulfil its potential 1 1 0 No 8x33x27

£500 and above

Cambridge Audio Azur 651BD 500 04.12/GT ★★★★★ A very talented Blu-ray player 2 1 1 8ch 9x43x31

Cambridge Audio Azur 751BD 800 08.11/GT ★★★★★ Ideal for those who want more than a budget player 2 1 1 8ch 9x43x31

Cambridge Audio Azur 752BD 800 04.13/FT ★★★★★ Features and functions combine in fine style, but audio performance could be a little better 2 1 1 8ch 9x43x31

Denon DBP-2012UD 500 04.12/GT ★★★★★ A price cut makes this discspinner even more appealing 1 0 1 8ch 11x43x32

Marantz UD7006 550 04.12/GT ★★★★★ A splendid master of all trades 1 0 1 8ch 11x44x33

Marantz UD7007 700 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Best Blu-ray player £300+, Awards 2013 1 1 1 No 11x44x31

Marantz UD8004 2449 03.10/FT ★★★★★ A brilliant player – if you want one box to do it all 1 1 1 8ch 12x44x39

Onkyo BD-SP809 500 04.12/GT ★★★★★ A fine choice, but not an all-rounder 2 1 1 No 10x43x31

Oppo BDP-93EU 500 04.12/GT ★★★★★ Perfect for the midrange Blu-ray player market 2 1 1 8ch 8x43x31

Projectors
Screens Buy one of these. A painted white wall is simply not good enough
Noise Fan noise can be a major issue if you sit close your projector
Lamp life Projector bulbs have limited lifespans and need to be changed regularly
Rated Brightness

Ourrecommendations

Component in

Dimensions
Throw Ratio

Weight (kg)
Resolution

(hwd, cm)
(Lumens)
HDMI in
DVI in
PCin
Type

Product £ Tested Verdict

Up to £1000
BenQ W1060 700 11.12/FT ★★★★★ Solid effort for a budget projector DLP 1.59-1.9 1920x1080 2000 2 1 1 1 15x33x25 3.6

BenQ W1200 1100 04.12/ST ★★★★★ Best projector up to £1500, Awards 2012 DLP 1.44-2.1:1 1920x1080 1800 2 0 1 1 14x34x26 3.6

BenQ W1080ST 850 12.13/GT ★★★★★ A good fit for small-scale home cinema entertainment DLP 0.69-0.83 1920x1080 2000 2 0 1 1 10x31x24 2.85

Epson EH-TW5900 950 04.12/GT ★★★★★ Sturdy and impressively spec’d LCD 1.32-2.15:1 1920x1080 2000 2 0 1 1 14x42x37 6

Epson EH-TW5910 900 12.13/GT ★★★★★ Best projector up to £1000, Awards 2013. Product of the Year LCD 1.32-2.15 1920x1080 2100 2 0 1 1 14x42x37 6

InFocus IN3118HD 990 05.13/GT ★★★★★ A few niggles but a bright and capable projector DLP 1.6-1.92 1920x1080 3600 2 0 1 0 10x34x25 3.7

Optoma HD23 800 04.12/GT ★★★★★ Affordable, but not the last word in performance DLP 1.5-1.8:1 1920x1080 2500 2 0 1 1 10x32x33 2.9

Optoma HD25 800 05.13/GT ★★★★★ Plenty of features for a budget level projector DLP 1.5-1.8 1920x1080 2000 2 0 2 2 12x38x31 4.5

£1000-£3000
Epson EH-TW6100W 1600 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best projector £1000-£2000, Awards 2013 LCD 1.32-2.15:1 1920x1080 2300 2 0 1 1 14x42x37 6

InFocus Screen Play 8604 2500 10.11/FT ★★★★★ A fine projector in many regards DLP 1.54-1.93:1 1920x1080 1700 3 0 1 1 18x43x34 8.6

Optoma HD83 2400 02.12/FT ★★★★★ Healthily priced,with a solid performance DLP 1.45x2.28 1920x1080 1600 2 0 0 1 19x49x37 8.4

£3000 and above

Epson EH-TW9000W 3200 06.12/FT ★★★★★ If you need wireless HDMI, buy this Epson LCD 1.34-2.87 1920x1080 2400 2 0 1 1 16x47x40 8.5

Epson EH-TW9200W 3000 03.14/FT ★★★★★ A fine projector, but not the showstopper we expected LCD 1.34-2.87:1 1920x1080 2400 6 0 0 1 14x47x40 9

JVCDLA-X35BE 3000 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Good but not great, this JVCappeals if you like bright pictures D-ILA n/a 1920x1080 1300 2 0 1 1 18x46x47 15

PanasonicPT-AT6000E 3000 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Best projector £2000+, Awards 2013 LCD 1.18-2.36 1920x1080 2400 3 0 1 1 15x47x36 8.7

Runco LightStyle LS-5 7500 01.11/FT ★★★★★ Glorious pefrormance at a high price DLP 1.85-2.40 1920x1080 754 2 0 1 1 20x45x53 10

SIM2 C3X Lumis 3D-S 30000 11.11/FT ★★★★★ The best 3D projector we’ve ever seen DLP 1.82-2.48:1 1920x1080 3000 2 0 0 1 46x21x46 11

Sony VPL-HW30ES 3000 02.12/GT ★★★★★ Very capable, but there’s better for the money SXRD 1.47-2.18 1920x1080 1300 2 0 1 1 18x41x46 10

Sony VPL-HW50ES 3000 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Shows why home cinema can’t be beaten SXRD 1.64-2.37 1920x1080 1700 2 0 0 1 18x41x46 9.6

Sony VPL-VW95ES 5000 01.12/FT ★★★★★ By class standards, it’s one of the best projectors around SXRD 1.37-2.19:1 1920x1080 1000 2 0 1 1 18x47x48 11

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 HOME CINEMA 99

Av receivers and amplifiers

AVreceivers&amplifiers
Up to £500 Well-equipped and deliver convincing surround sound
£500-£1000 There are gains in features, build quality and sonic performance
£1000+ Real powerhouses that pack loads of features and cinema-style sound

Theshortlist

AWARDWINNER AWARDWINNER
Yamaha RX-V375 Sony STR-DN1040 Pioneer SC-LX57

3D passthrough
Alsoconsider

Dimensions
Networking
/power (w)

(hwd, cm)
Channels

HDMI out
HDMI in
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £300
Pioneer VSX-528 285 02.14/GT ★★★★★ A well-equipped budget amp with good surround sound capabilities 5x130 6 1 ● ● 17x44x33

SonySTR-DH820 230 04.13/GT ★★★★★ A capable, if not faultless, option for those looking for a sub-£250 7.1 channel amp 7x115 4 1 ● 16x43x32

Yamaha RX-V373 250 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Best home cinema amplifier up to £350, Awards 2012 5x100 4 1 ● 15x44x32

Yamaha RX-V375 250 02.14/GT ★★★★★ Best home cinema amplifier up to £350, Awards 2013 5x100 4 1 ● 15x44x32

£300-£500
Harman Kardon AVR-171 450 10.13/FT ★★★★★ Could be subtler but delivers a powerhouse performance 7x100 6 2 ● 12x44x30

OnkyoTX-NR515 450 11.12/GT ★★★★★ The amplifier to beat in 2012, now beaten 7x130 8 2 ● ● 17x44x33

SonySTR-DH840 350 02.14/GT ★★★★★ A talented, energeticamp that delivers plenty of precision and attack 7x150 6 1 ● ● 16x43x33

SonySTR-DN1030 470 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Gives the best (at this price) a run for their money 7x120 5 1 ● ● 17x43x33

SonySTR-DN1040 500 08.13/GT ★★★★★ Best home cinema amplifier £350-£700, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR 7x100 8 2 ● ● 16x43x32

Yamaha RX-V675 500 08.13/GT ★★★★★ A powerful and thrilling amplifier for the money 7x150 6 1 ● ● 17x44x36

£500-£1000
Denon AVR-2113 550 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Solid, likeable option for both novices and enthusiasts 7x125 6 1 ● ● 17x44x33

Denon AVR-X2000 500 08.13/GT ★★★★★ Marks a fine return to form for Denon 7x150 7 1 ● ● 17x43x33

Denon AVR-X4000 900 12.13/GT ★★★★★ Decent if you’re looking for a sub-£1000 AV receiver 7x125 7 3 ● ● 17x43x38

Harman-Kardon AVR-365 800 03.12/ST ★★★★★ Great looks, but lacks some precision 7x110 6 1 ● 17x44x39

Pioneer VSX-923 450 08.13/GT ★★★★★ Needs more heft but it’s still a confident and compelling amp 7x150 8 2 ● ● 17x44x36

Yamaha RX-V673 500 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Best home cinema amplifier £350-£700, Awards 2012. 7x150 6 1 ● 17x44x36

OnkyoTX-NR626 500 08.13/GT ★★★★★ Well-featured but not as compelling or as immersive as rival products 7x160 6 2 ● ● 17x44x33

£1000-£2000
Denon AVR-4520 1970 03.13/ST ★★★★★ An enjoyable, easygoing sound, pipped only in terms of absolute excitement 9x150 7 2 ● 20x43x42

OnkyoTX-NR818 1000 09.12/FT ★★★★★ Impressive AV amp with features aplenty 7x180 8 2 ● ● 34x59x55

PioneerSC-LX56 1300 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Best home cinema amplifier £700-£1500, Awards 2012 9x170 8 2 ● ● 19x44x44

PioneerSC-LX57 1200 12.13/GT ★★★★★ Best home cinema amplifier £700-£1500, Awards 2013 9x190 9 3 ● ● 19x44x44

PioneerSC-LX86 1800 03.13/ST ★★★★★ Best Home Cinema amplifier £1500+, Awards 2012 9x190 8 3 ● ● 19x44x414

Yamaha RX-A1020 1000 04.13/FT ★★★★★ Delivering excitement, detail and precision, this is a brilliantly capable all-rounder 7x110 8 2 ● ● 18x43x43

Yamaha RX-A1030 1000 12.13/GT ★★★★★ Not without some niggles, this receiver delivers big-time power and muscle 7x110 8 2 ● ● 18x43x43

£2000 and above

Anthem MRX 700 2100 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Fantastic-sounding and worthy of a serious audition 7x90 4 1 17x44x39

Arcam FMJ AVR450 2200 03.14/GT ★★★★★ There’s plenty to like with this receiver, but its rivals better it 7x110 7 2 ● ● 17x43x42

Arcam AVR750 4000 12.13/FT ★★★★★ It’s not flawless, but this AV receiver is very good 7x100 7 2 ● ● 17x43x43

PioneerSC-LX87 2000 03.14/GT ★★★★★ Pioneer strikes gold again with this feature-laden powerhouse 9x220 9 3 ● ● 19x44x44

OnkyoTX-NR1010 2000 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Power-packed heavyweight needs a touch more precision 7x200 9 2 ● ● 20x44x59

OnkyoTX-NR3009 2000 04.12/GT ★★★★★ Produces seriously rewarding surround sound 9x200 8 2 ● ● 34x61x60

OnkyoTX-NR3010 2000 03.13/ST ★★★★★ A solid performance but lacks the subtlety to cut it as a complete all-rounder 9x160 9 2 ● ● 20x44x60

Yamaha RX-A3020 2000 03.13/ST ★★★★★ A shot across the bows of the class leaders 9x230 8 2 ● ● 19x44x47

Yamaha RX-A3030 2000 03.14/GT ★★★★★ Best home cinema amplifier £1500+, Awards 2013 9x150 8 1 ● ● 19x44x47

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 99

Subwoofers 100 HOME CINEMA

Subwoofers
Sealed cabinet Tends to produce the tightest bass but limits outright quantity
Reflex port A more common design that tends to deliver more bass
Room equalisation Evens out the sub’s response to produce a more balanced sound

The shortlist

AWARDWINNER AWARDWINNER
Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 Bowers & WIlkins ASW610XP Velodyne SPL-1000 Ultra

Passive radiator

Remote control
Alsoconsider

Speaker outs
Line outputs

Phase invert

Dimensions
Speaker ins
orientation

Line inputs
Driver (cm)

(hwd, cm)
Drive unit
Power (w)

Finishes
Sealed
Ported
Product £ Tested Verdict

EQ
Up to £500
B&W ASW610 450 05.09/GT ★★★★★ Best subwoofer up to £700, Awards 2011 200 25 ● Forward 1 1 ● ● 4 31x31x38

Klipsch SW-450 330 02.11/GT ★★★★★ Weighty and tight, but loses its way at times 200 25.4 ● Downward 2 2 ● ● 1 43x36x50

Monitor Audio Vector VW-8 225 04.10/FT ★★★★★ Capable little sub for an entry-level system 100 20 ● Forward 2 0 ● 2 32x28x28

RELAcousticsT-Zero 350 05.12/GT ★★★★★ Small and discreet, but limited by size 100 16.5 ● Downward 2 1 ● 2 24x22x26

TannoyTS2.10 430 03.12/FT ★★★★★ Small, but packs a ferocious punch 300 25 ● Forward 1 0 ● ● 3 39x38x33

Velodyne EQ-Max 8 495 04.12/FT ★★★★★ Small, but punches well above its weight 180 20 ● Forward 2 2 ● ● ● ● ● 1 37x33x38

Velodyne Impact-10 295 07.09/GT ★★★★★ This sizeable subwoofer needs to be more controlled 150 25 ● Forward 2 2 ● ● ● ● 4 35x32x37

Velodyne Impact-12 365 05.09/GT ★★★★★ Fine sub, more of a movie than a musicclassic 165 30 ● Forward 2 1 ● ● 1 39x66x45

Velodyne Impact-Mini 435 10.09/FT ★★★★★ Amazingly small sub with fine movie performance 180 16.5 ● Forward 2 2 ● ● 1 25x25x30

W’fedale Powercube SPC-10 300 11.11/FT ★★★★★ Nearly a terrificsubwoofer - but there are issues 215 25 ● Downward 1 1 ● ● 8 38x35x31

£500-£1000
B&W ASW610XP 700 07.09/FT ★★★★★ Ideal for big bass from a small box 500 25 ● Forward 2 1 ● ● 4 32x32x37

Monitor Audio Apex AW-12 950 05.12/GT ★★★★★ Beautiful to look at, and punchy too 500 30.5 ● Forward 1 0 ● ● ● 2 34x34x41

RELAcousticsT-7 650 02.12/FT ★★★★★ A compact sub with authority 200 20 ● Downward 2 1 ● 2 30x35x33

Sonos Sub 600 08.12/FT ★★★★★ Sounds great. Makes sense with Sonos Play speakers n/a n/a ● Inward 0 0 ● ● ● 1 40x38x16

TannoyTS2.12 549 05.12/GT ★★★★★ Attractively priced with decent sonics too 500 30.5 ● Forward 1 0 ● ● 2 44x43x38

Velodyne EQ-Max 12 825 05.12/GT ★★★★★ Powerful and agile and supremely enjoyable 225 30.5 ● Forward 1 2 ● ● ● ● ● 1 45x42x46

Yamaha NS-SW700 500 03.10/FT ★★★★★ Not the most accomplished, but very competent 300 25 ● Downward 4 2 ● ● 2 45x41x41

£1000 and above

B&W PV1D 1200 05.12/GT ★★★★★ Delivers precision and agility in spades 400 20 ● Forward 1 0 ● ● ● 2 34x27x36

Jamo D600 1300 05.12/GT ★★★★★ A brilliant sub that’s worth the price 400 38 ● Forward n/a 0 ● 1 56x59x50

Paradigm Seismic110 1250 10.10/FT ★★★★★ A subwoofer that’s deeply impressive in every sense 850 25 ● Forward 2 0 ● ● 1 34x30x32

Sunfire Subr. SRA2700EQ 2350 03.12/FT ★★★★★ It’s not cheap, but it is impressive 2700 25x2 ● Forward 2 0 ● ● ● 1 36x113x9

Velodyne SPL-1000 Ultra 1400 09.11/FT ★★★★★ Best subwoofer £700+, Awards 2011 1200 25 ● Forward 1 1 ● ● ● ● 3 34x33x34

Wilson BeneschTorus 3000 02.07/GT ★★★★★ The most musical and insightful deep bass ever 200 36 ● Upward 4 1 ● ● ● ● 2 45x90x30

Need to know: subwoofers

High level? Or low?
Most subs offer a choice of high-level or low-level
connections. High is fed from your amp’s speaker
outputs; low via a pair of preout sockets on your
amp, or the main outputs from a preamp. Opinion
on what’s best is divided, but many choose the
speaker-level connections so the sub ‘sees’ exactly
the same signal as the main speakers.
The counter-argument is that low-level hook-ups
offer a more direct connection to the preamp – i.e.
the signal isn’t being amplified once in the main
amp’s power section, reduced again in the sub and
then boosted by the amp before it gets to the driver.
We favour a high-level connection when playing
music, although the low-level feed will filter out the
very low bass when used with an amp with preout,
or a pre/power combination, so your main speakers
aren’t trying to reproduce the very low stuff.
Keep your bass to yourself
A problem with bass is that it travels through
structures: nip into the kitchen and all you’ll hear is a
series of thumps and rumbles. Our advice? Keep the
sub away from the walls, and if you have people in a
flat below, consider a hefty paving slab under the
sub or a sound isolation platform.
A firm base
Most subwoofers are supplied with spikes for their
feet or the base of the cabinet: if you have carpets,
use them to stop the sub moving during heavy
low-frequency moments, and if you have wood
floors either put coins under the tips of the spikes or
ask your dealer about purpose-made metal spike
cups or floor protectors. If you have a very thick
carpet and a sub with a downward-firing driver,
consider the use of a paving slab under the sub or a
piece of MDF, to provide a more reflective surface.
You can paint either of these black, or cover them in
black felt, for a more professional look.

100 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

Surround speakers 102 HOME CINEMA

Surroundspeakers
Full size Traditional cabinet design that’s big but can deliver a great sound
Style Compact speakers that make a lot of sense in smaller living spaces
Bipole/Dipole Surround speaker designs that give a more cohesive soundfield

Theshortlist

AWARDWINNER AWARDWINNER
Q Acoustics 2000i 5.1 Dali Zensor 1 5.1 Cambridge Audio Aero 5.1
Awards 2013: BestTraditional Pack up to £700 Awards 2013: Best Style Pack £700-£1500 Awards 2013: BestTraditional Pack £1500-£2500

Center speaker
Alsoconsider

Front speaker

Rear speaker

Subwoofer
(hwd, cm)

(hwd, cm)

(hwd, cm)

(hwd, cm)

Finishes
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
Boston Ac. Soundware XSSE 220 12.11/FT ★★★★★ Just as good as its predecessor: a must-hear 11x11x9 11x11x9 11x11x9 31x28x40 2

Canton Movie 130 450 05.12/FT ★★★★★ Likeable and listenable 12x9x10 9x19x10 12x9x10 41x24x42 3

Harman-Kardon HKTS20 450 09.11/GT ★★★★★ Neat, but a conservative listen 22x11x9 11x26x9 22x11x9 36x27x27 1

Jamo A101HCS5 230 11.11/FT ★★★★★ A great way to get started with home cinema 9x15x15 9x15x15 9x15x15 30x57x16 1

Jamo S426 HCS3 350 01.12/FT ★★★★★ A worthy home cinema solution 91x18x24 12x34x12 21x12x12 n/a 3

Teufel Motiv 3 460 06.10/GT ★★★★★ Another solid showing from this manufacturer 12x12x14 12x12x14 12x12x14 26x26x32 1

TeufelTheater 80 449 01.10/FT ★★★★★ Big sounds for not too much money 23x15x19 23x15x19 23x15x19 40x26x40 1

Wharfedale DX-1HCP 400 Aw.11/FT ★★★★★ Gets a lot right for this kind of money 19x12x12 12x29x12 19x12x12 34x29x32 2

£500-£1000
Boston Ac. SoundWare S 510 02.12/FT ★★★★★ Dinky yet substantial-sounding 14x14x14 14x14x14 14x14x14 34x32x44 2

Cambridge Audio MinxS215 500 05.11/FT ★★★★★ Lots to admire here from very little 8x8x9 8x8x9 8x8x9 22x21x22 1

Dali Zensor 1 5.1 980 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best traditional package £700-£1500, Awards 2013. Product of the Year 27x16x22 16x44x29 27x16x22 31x29x31 3

Jamo A 200 HCS 5 640 01.13/FT ★★★★★ A gutsy and entertaining sound at this price 22x9x5 22x9x5 22x9x5 31x28x31 7

KEF KHT3005 HD2 900 03.12/FT ★★★★★ Great build with an expansive sound 25x13x15 13x25x15 25x13x15 38x37x18 1

KEF E305 900 11.13/ST ★★★★★ A room-filling system but there are more dynamicpackages out there 26x14x16 16x22x15 26x14x16 32x43x27 2

Mission MX15.1 600 11.11/FT ★★★★★ Ideal for a medium sized room 28x17x26 15x42x19 28x17x26 30x30x33 4

Monitor Audio MASS 800 11.13/ST ★★★★★ Still an excellent system, it narrowly falls short of the best 22x13x13 13x22x13 22x13x13 42x38x38 1

Q Acoustics 2000i 5.1 625 Aw.11/FT ★★★★★ Best traditional package up to £700, Awards 2013 23x15x20 23x16x12 23x15x20 23x16x12 2

Q Acoustics Q7000 800 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Product of the year - Speaker packages, Awards 2011 24x10x16 12x21x16 24x10x16 37x51x22 2

Q Acoustics Q7000i 900 11.13/ST ★★★★★ Best style package £700-£1000, Awards 2013 24x10x16 12x20x16 24x10x16 32x46x20 2

Tannoy HTS-101 400 09.11/GT ★★★★★ Best style package up to £700, Awards 2013 16x11x14 11x25x17 16x11x14 42x28x37 1

TeufelTheater 200 799 04.10/FT ★★★★★ Big-screen soundtracks don’t come bigger than this 44x20x29 25x44x27 23x16x12 60x38x49 1

Wharfedale 100-HCP 950 11.13/FT ★★★★★ A very good package, but could do with a better centre speaker 32x17x26 17x47x27 32x17x26 39x35x31 7

£1000-£2000
AcousticEnergy Neo V2 5.1 1200 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Plenty to enjoy if you have a large room 91x20x24 18x48x20 36x18x23 41x36x33 2

B&W 685Theatre 1200 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Best traditional package £1000-£1500, Awards 2010 23x16x12 34x20x33 27x17x33 26x26x33 6

B&W MT-50 1100 11.13/ST ★★★★★ Best style package £1000-£1400, Awards 2013 25x11x16 25x11x16 25x11x16 26x26x33 2

B&W MT-60D 1950 05.12/GT ★★★★★ Best style package £1800+, Awards 2013 25x11x16 25x11x16 25x11x16 34x27x36 2

Cabasse Eole 3 1000 11.13/ST ★★★★★ A likable, big-sounding system that lacks a little authority 13x13x13 13x13x13 13x13x13 33x33x35 2

Cambridge Audio Aero 5.1 1950 10.13/FT ★★★★★ Best traditional package £1500-£2500, Awards 2013 98x24x34 15x43x21 18x46x15 34x33x36 2

Dali Fazon 1 1500 07.10/GT ★★★★★ Preferable in many ways to its pricier big brother 26x14x13 26x14x13 26x14x13 28x26x27 2

Dali Fazon 3 5.1 1699 05.12/GT ★★★★★ Best style package £1200-£2000, Awards 2011 26x14x14 14x26x14 26x14x14 23x16x12 2

Dali Zensor 5 5.1 1499 Aw.11/FT ★★★★★ Best traditional package £700-£1500, Awards 2012 84x16x27 16x44x28 97x16x23 34x37x38 2

Elipson Planet M 5.1 1300 03.13/FT ★★★★★ Enjoyable looks and sound, just lacking a smidge of detail 15x15x15 15x15x15 15x15x15 39x32x32 3

Focal Dome 5.1 1000 11.13/ST ★★★★★ It’s not perfect but this Focal charms nonetheless 17x14x14 17x14x14 17x14x14 40x28x28 3

Jamo D500THXSelect 2 1700 01.11/FT ★★★★★ Exceptional and unbeatable value too 26x45x13 26x45x13 26x45x13 42x40x42 2

KEF Q300 5.1 1880 10.11/GT ★★★★★ An admirable package for the purists 36x21x30 21x63x30 36x21x30 33x34x33 3

KEF T105 1200 04.11/GT ★★★★★ A stealthy package that looks the part 33x14x4 33x14x4 33x14x4 38x37x8 1

Klipsch Synergy B20/SW450 1050 09.11/FT ★★★★★ A vibrant and exciting 5.1 package 32x18x20 15x41x13 14x30x12 43x36x50 1

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 HOME CINEMA 103

Center speaker
SURROUNDSPEAKERScontinued

Surround speakers
Front speaker

Rear speaker

Subwoofer
(hwd, cm)

(hwd, cm)

(hwd, cm)

(hwd, cm)

Finishes
Product £ Tested Verdict
Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 5.1 1050 Aw.10/FT ★★★★★ Thrillingly fit for purpose 35x19x26 17x46x17 29x28x11 33x32x33 4

Monitor Audio Bronze BX5 5.1 1215 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Does a good job of filling a big room 85x17x25 17x46x17 29x28x11 33x32x33 2

Monitor Audio Radius R90HT1 1500 10.13/FT ★★★★★ Best style package £1400-£1800, Awards 2013 20x13x14 17x46x17 20x13x14 33x32x33 3

Quad L-ite Plus 5.1 package 1200 12.13/FT ★★★★★ A fine package that’s up against some formidable rivals at this price 25x14x18 15x38x17 25x14x18 31x24x24 3

Tannoy Rev. Compact 5.1 1300 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Exceptional sound in the average living room 27 x 15 x 16 15 x 30 x 16 39 x 31 x 34 32x29x29 2

£2000 and above

AcousticEnergy Active Pro 5.1 3035 08.10/FT ★★★★★ A stunning listen that’s great value too 22x15x18 22x15x18 22x15x18 35x35x33 1

AcousticEnergy Radiance 5.1 3000 05.09/FT ★★★★★ This 5.1 package has plenty of appeal 92x23x30 19x45x30 32x19x25 41x36x33 2

B&W CM9Theatre 4200 09.11/FT ★★★★★ Best traditional package £3500+, Awards 2013 102x32x37 22x59x28 34x20x28 32x32x32 2

B&W CT800 system 67950 11.08/GT ★★★★★ Expensive but it’s the best we’ve heard 110x33x55 33x110x55 110x33x10 48x48x48 1

Cabasse MT-30 5.1 2100 03.10/GT ★★★★★ Looks more assertive than it is, but still likeable x11x21 16x48x37 41x23x20 42x31x43 2

Dali Ikon 6 Mk2 5.1 2900 12.10/FT ★★★★★ Ideal for those with big listening areas to fill 103x19x35 15x57x25 38x27x15 48x41x46 3

Dali Lektor 5.1 2320 03.10/GT ★★★★★ Only just fails to get top marks against its rivals 106x25x37 17x60x18 31x17x22 36x31x40 2

Dali Mentor 5.1 5700 08.08/FT ★★★★★ Powerhouse of a system 103x20x39 20x89x29 32x16x24 37x33x33 2

KEF R100 5.1 2850 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Best traditional package £2500-£3500, Awards 2013 28x18x29 17x53x31 28x18x29 37x33x35 4

M&K 950-Series 5445 04.10/FT ★★★★★ Exceptional system with thrilling sound 41x18x22 41x18x22 26x18x22 60x39x51 2

Monitor Audio Apex 2400 05.12/GT ★★★★★ Best style speaker package £2000+, Awards 2011 25x14x14 14x61x10 25x14x14 34x34x41 2

Monitor Audio PL200AV 11400 08.10/FT ★★★★★ Exceptional in every sense 100x25x28 22x58x29 37x34x36 45x48x47 3

Monitor Audio PL300 AV 13500 10.09/FT ★★★★★ One of the finest 5.1 speaker packages on the market 111x41x47 22x58x29 37x22x28 45x48x47 2

Monitor Audio Silver 6AV12 2875 03.14/FT ★★★★★ A hugely capable surround package. Worthy of serious consideration 94x35x20 19x50x24 25x31x12 23x16x14 6

Mon. Audio Silver RX6 AV12 2200 10.11/GT ★★★★★ Best traditional package £1500-£2500, Awards 2011 85x19x25 19x50x20 30x12x25 34x34x41 6

Mordaunt-Short Aviano 5.1 2000 03.10/GT ★★★★★ Guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat 95x21x32 18x46x23 95x21x30 42x31x36 3

Mordaunt-Short Mezzo 5.1 2300 11.08/GT ★★★★★ Lots of attack, with little respite 100x22x28 18x49x22 35x22x28 32x34x35 2

Paradigm MilleniaOne 2500 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Smooth and detailed, but slightly lacking in attack 20x12x15 20x12x15 20x12x15 34x30x32 2

PMCDB1i 5.1 4675 12.09/FT ★★★★★ Small and sonically brilliant package 29x16x23 16x29x23 29x16x23 55x20x55 4

Tannoy Revolution Signature 2300 11.08/GT ★★★★★ As thrilling or as calming as you want it to be 85x17x18 17x45x18 27x17x18 37x34x34 2

Five ways to... improve your home cinema

Afewsimpletweakscanpaydividendswhenitcomestogettingthe
bestpicturequalityfromyourprojector,flatscreenTVorplasma

1. Control your lighting

While the best modern projectors can be used in fairly bright rooms, the
results are far from optimal. Ideally, projectors work best in a darkened
room – and if you’re after the best results, proper lighting control, using
blackout blinds, makes a big difference. If you’ve the luxury of a dedicated
home cinema room, consider omitting windows altogether, painting your
ceiling black, and finishing walls in matt, muted hues.

2. Optimise your cabling 4. Invest in a kit rack

Always use the best available video connection option for your sources.
The hierachy of picture quality runs (bottom to top): composite, S Video,
RGB Scart, component, DVI, then HDMI. If you find you’ve run out of
suitable sockets for your sources, you can use video converters to turn
one signal into another, or HDMI switching boxes – the latter can be handy
with some early plasma and LCD TVs, which tend to be short of HDMI inputs.
On the subject of kit racks, remember that a decent equipment rack will
make a useful difference to both sound and vision quality in a good home
cinema. A solid, stable stand can really give you a better picture: try it for
yourself if you don’t believe us. Not only will it effectively isolate your
source gear, it will also give your TV a boost. To get the most from any
rack, ensure it is both stable and level – use a spirit level.

3. Calibrate your screen 5. Buy a projector

To make more precise adjustments, purchase a DVD/Blu-ray with THX
approval (try Avatar). These discs feature a THX Optimiser section that
will enable you to fine-tune your picture. For those with tablets and other
portable devices, THX has just released the Android version of its
Optimiser app (it was already available on iOS). For more information
check out our guide to using the app on p143.
For the most realistic cinema experience at home, we always
recommend a display that swamps your peripheral vision with the scale
of the image in front of you - namely, a projector. You’ll be amazed at just
how impressive even a £1000 projector can be these days. The
Award-winning Epson EH TW5910 comes in at £900 and boasts
seriously impressive picture performance.

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 103

CD Players 110 HI-FI

CDplayers
Integrated Has both a CD mechanism and digital-to-analogue conversion tech
Transport Needs an outboard DAC but can deliver a higher standard of sound

Theshortlist

AWARDWINNER AWARDWINNER
Marantz CD6005 Naim CD5si Roksan Caspian M2 CD
Awards 2013: Best CD Player up to £500 Awards 2013: Best CD Player £500-£1500 Awards 2013: Best CD Player £1500+

Headphone out
Alsoconsider

Dimensions
Co-axial out

AES/EBU in
Optical out
Integrated

Co-axial in

(hwd, cm)
Transport

Optical in

Finishes
RCA out
XLR out

USB in
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
Cambridge Audio Azur 351C 300 11.12/FT ★★★★★ A worthy rival to the Award-winning MarantzCD6004 ● 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 9x43x31

Cambridge Audio Azur 651C 450 03.12/FT ★★★★★ A spacious sounding discspinner ● 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 9x43x31

MarantzCD6004 300 01.12/ST ★★★★★ BestCD player up to £500, Awards 2012 ● 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 11x44x34

MarantzCD6005 350 10.13/FT ★★★★★ BestCD player up to £500, Awards 2013 ● 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 11x44x34

Sansui CDD-201V 200 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Sensibly priced, but not quite an all-rounder ● 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 7x43x28

£500-£1000
Arcam FMJ CD17 650 06.12/ST ★★★★★ Basicon features, but capable enough ● 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 9x43x29

Audiolab 8200CD 800 03.14/GT ★★★★★ BestCD player £500-£1000, Awards 2012 ● 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 0 1 1 8x44x30

Audiolab 8200CDQ 950 09.11/FT ★★★★★ Improves on the sky-high performance of the 8200CD ● 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 0 1 2 8x44x30

NADC546BEE 500 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Talented but struggles against the more enjoyable budget Marantz ● 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 9x44x31

Cyrus CDi 975 03.14/GT ★★★★★ Arguably the best, most insightful integrated playerCyrus has ever made ● 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 7x22x36

Cyrus CDTransport 750 01.12/ST ★★★★★ An impressive and affordable CD transport ● 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8x22x36

Cyrus CD6 SE2 700 06.12/ST ★★★★★ Subtly upgraded, with worthwhile results ● 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 8x22x36

Naim CD5si 995 03.14/GT ★★★★★ BestCD player £500-£1500, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR ● 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 7x43x30

Pioneer PD-50 500 09.13/FT ★★★★★ Worth considering but thisSACD player doesn’t quite engage ● 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 13x44x33

Rega Apollo-R 550 06.12/ST ★★★★★ Admirable, but lacks some cohesion ● 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 9x22x32

Roksan Kandy K2 900 06.12/ST ★★★★★ Big and powerful, with an entertaining sound ● 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 10x43x38

Yamaha CD-S2000 979 03.09/GT ★★★★★ A beautiful object that’s involving to listen to ● 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 14x44x44

£1000 and above

Audio Research CD5 5500 06.09/FT ★★★★★ Audio Research strikes gold again.The CD5 is a terrificplayer ● 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 13x48x31

Burmester 069 35840 11.13/FT ★★★★★ Quite possibly the bestCD player money can buy 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 16x45x34

Cambridge Audio Azur 851C 1200 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Impressive sonicpresentation but a touch too clinical for our tastes ● 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 1 1 2 12x43x34

Copland CDA 825 4298 05.13/FT ★★★★★ A hugely capable player with stunning sound quality ● 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 10x43x39

Cyrus CD 8 SE2 1200 09.12/FT ★★★★★ BestCD player £1000-£1500, Awards 2012 ● 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 8x22x36

dCS Puccini 11300 02.11/FT ★★★★★ With the master clock it’s an amazing combo ● 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 11x46x40

EsotericK-05 7495 01.14/FT ★★★★★ A great place to start… if you’re looking for your final disc-player ● 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 13x45x36

Leema Antila IIS Eco 2995 09.11/FT ★★★★★ The already good Antila goes up another level in performance ● 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 11x44x31

Musical Fidelity M6CD 2100 08.13/FT ★★★★★ Its powerful, yet refined sound will appeal to many, a fine performer ● 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 13x44x39

Naim CDS3/XPS2 9990 06.04/FT ★★★★★ Sell your car and treat your musiccollection to the best present ever ● ● 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 9x43x31

Naim CD5 XS 1950 Aw.09/FT ★★★★★ It’s an excellentCD player, but faces stiff competition ● 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 7x43x30

Naim CD555/555PS 18345 10.09/FT ★★★★★ The CD555/555PS has a hefty price tag, but a classy performance ● 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 11x43x31

Naim CDX2 3640 02.10/FT ★★★★★ The tweaked CDX2 remains a fine proposition ● 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 9x43x31

Parasound Halo CD1 5000 07.13/FT ★★★★★ Not cheap but it’s a fine CD player with an idiosyncraticdesign ● 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 11x44x35

Primare CD32 2200 04.11/FT ★★★★★ It’s massively detailed, but not as engaging as we’d like ● 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 11x43x38

Rega Isis 5998 06.10/FT ★★★★★ A great first stab at tackling the high-end CD market ● 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 11x43x35

Roksan Caspian M2 CD 1650 Aw.10/FT ★★★★★ BestCD player £1500+ Awards 2013 ● 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 8x43x33

T+A MP 3000 HV 7900 12.13/FT ★★★★★ A classy multi-source player that delivers high-quality sound ● 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 11x43x35

Wadia S7i 14000 10.11/FT ★★★★★ An engineering sledgehammer ● 1 0 1 1 0 3 2 1 1 1 17x46x46

110 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 HI-FI 111

DACs
DACs
Digital-to-analogue converters take a digital data stream from its source (such as a computer
or CD transport) and turns it into an analogue signal that your amplifier can work with. These devices
have become more popular in recent years due to the emergence of computer-based audio

Balanced XLR out

Headphone out
Ourrecommendations

Dimensions
AES EBU in
Co-axial in

(hwd, cm)
Optical in

Wireless
HDMI in

RCA out
USB in
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
Audioengine D1 150 05.12/FT ★★★★★ A DACand headphone amp with a fine sound 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 3x9x10

Audioquest DragonFly 215 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Best DACup to £300, Awards 2012 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6x2x1

Audioquest DragonFly v1.2 130 02.14/GT ★★★★★ Outrageously good sound quality at an aggressive price 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6x2x1

Arcam irDAC 400 11.13/FT ★★★★★ Best DAC£300-£500, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 4x12x19

Arcam irDACWireless 380 09.12/GT ★★★★★ No longer the default choice at the money, still very much a contender 1 1 1 0 0 ● 0 1 0 4x16x11

Arcam rPAC 150 04.13/ST ★★★★★ More desirable alternatives, but the rPACstill has plenty of merit 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3x10x6

Camb. Audio DacMagic100 200 06.12/FT ★★★★★ An affordable, fine looking and listenable DAC 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 5x11x13

Camb. Audio DacMagicPlus 350 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Better sound and features than the original - but pricey 1 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 5x22x19

Camb. Audio DacMagicXS 100 02.14/GT ★★★★★ Drops down a star but still a delightful little device 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5x3x1

Furutech ADLGT 40 400 06.11/FT ★★★★★ Product of the Year - Cables & Accessories, Awards 2011 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 6x15x11

Firestone Spitfire 250 05.10/GT ★★★★★ If you don’t need USB, then this is the pick of the DACs 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5x8x11

HRT Headstreamer 145 02.12/FT ★★★★★ A neat headphone amp and DACcombination 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3x6x7

HRT microStreamer 180 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Best DACup to £300, Awards 2013 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1x3x6

Meridian Director 450 11.13/GT ★★★★★ Packs a sonicpunch but lacks the swagger found in others 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3x14x8

Meridian Explorer DAC 250 07.13/GT ★★★★★ The Explorer’s design and assured sonicperformance makes it a top contender 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2x3x10

Micromega MyDAC 260 04.13/ST ★★★★★ If you like your musicto have an attacking edge, then this DAC’s for you 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2x3x10

Musical Fidelity V-90 DAC 200 12.13/FT ★★★★★ A well-featured DACthat’s a little too relaxed in its sound 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 5x17x10

NAD DAC1 295 01.12/ST ★★★★★ A good, though not exceptional, wireless DAC 1 0 0 0 0 ● 0 1 0 4x14x7

NAD D 1050 400 11.13/GT ★★★★★ For those looking for a desktop DAC, the NAD D 1050 is a brilliant box of tricks 1 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 19x6x21

Pro-Ject DACBox DS 299 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A solid performer but doesn’t excel in any area 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 7x10x14

£500-£1000
Audiolab M-DAC 600 08.13/GT ★★★★★ Best DAC£500-£700, Awards 2013 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 6x25x25

Chord Chordette QuteHD 990 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Best DAC£700-£1000, Awards 2013 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 7x16x4

Heed Audio Dactilus 3 515 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Excellent presentation let down by understated sound 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 7x10x25

Rega DAC 500 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Beefy build; natural, unforced, dynamicand detailed sound 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 8x22x27

Musical Fidelity M1SDAC 800 08.13/FT ★★★★★ An impressive speclist but performance is trumped by cheaper rivals 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 10x22x31

Parasound Zdac 500 11.13/GT ★★★★★ The Zdacproduces a lively, likable sound 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 5x22x26

Sony UDA-1 500 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Not the most musically exciting DAC, but an excellent choice for desktop users 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 7x23x26

£1000 and above

Antelope ZodiacGold/Voltikus 3100 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Unique and appealing, it just misses out on a fifth star 1 2 2 0 0 2 1 1 11x17x19

Audio Research DAC8 4698 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Pricey, but as organic-sounding as you can get 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 13x48x25

Arcam FMJ D33 2000 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A well-equipped DAC, but not the best in class 3 2 2 1 0 0 1 2 11x43x37

Bricasti Design M1 DAC 7000 03.14/FT ★★★★★ An understated but deeply talented performer.Thoroughly impressive 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 6x43x30

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 111

 112 HI-FI

Balanced XLR out

Headphone out
DACs continued
Turntables | DACs

Dimensions
AES EBU in
Co-axial in

(hwd, cm)
Optical in

Wireless
HDMI in

RCA out
USB in
Product £ Tested Verdict
£1000 and above
Bryston BDA-1 DAC 2350 06.11/FT ★★★★★ A great sounding DACwith appealing build quality 1 2 4 1 0 0 1 1 4x48x29

Burmester 113 2300 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Small and unassuming but packs a seriously exciting sound 1 1 1 0 0 ● 0 1 1 6x20x17

Chord QBD76 HDSD 4995 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A top-class, visually appealing DACthat delivers brilliant sound 2 2 2 2 0 0 1 1 6x34x15

dCS Debussy 7930 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Worth every penny of its asking price 1 0 2 2 0 0 1 1 7x45x39

McIntosh D100 3000 06.13/GT ★★★★★ A solid and entertainer performer. Well featured, too 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 10x45x41

Musical Fidelity M6 DAC 2000 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A mighty performer but its price and competition rob it of a fifth star 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 13x44x39

NAD M51 1500 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Best DAC£1200+, Awards 2012 1 1 1 1 2 0 1 0 8x44x30

Naim DAC 2150 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Flexible, fine sounding and future-proof.The Naim is some DAC 2 3 3 0 0 0 1 0 7x43x30

Naim DAC-V1 1250 08.13/GT ★★★★★ Best DAC£1000+, Awards 2013 1 2 3 0 0 1 1 1 9x21x32

T+A DAC8 1250 09.13/FT ★★★★★ Beautifully engineered with a great sound to boot 1 1 4 1 0 1 1 1 9x27x27

Turntables
Turntable The main part of the player that actually spins the record
Tonearm The component that carries the cartridge across the record surface
Cartridge Turns the information in the record groove into sound

Elec. speed change

Manual operation
Ourrecommendations

Cartridges inc.
Tonearm inc.
RPM

Dimensions
Phono amp

(hwd, cm)
USB port
Finishes
33.33
Product £ Tested Verdict

45
78
Up to £1000
Edwards AudioTT1 380 11.11/FT ★★★★★ A tempting alternative to the class-leaders at this price ● ● ● ● ● 1 12x45x36

Pro-Ject Essential II 200 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best turntable up to £400, Awards 2013 ● ● ● ● 3 14x46x36

Pro-Ject 2-Xperience Basic+ 600 Aw.11/FT ★★★★★ Fuss-free package with a strikingly clear sound ● ● ● ● ● 1 14x46x36

112 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 HI-FI 113

Elec. speed change

Manual operation

Turntables | Radios
TURNTABLEScontinued

Cartridges inc.
Tonearm inc.

Dimensions
RPM

Phono amp

(hwd, cm)
USB port
Finishes
33.33
Product £ Tested Verdict

45
78
Pro-Ject 2Xperience Classic 750 12.10/FT ★★★★★ A fine deck that’s worth auditioning ● ● ● ● ● 3 16x46x36

Pro-Ject DebutCarbon 300 09.12/FT ★★★★★ Best turntable up to £500, Awards 2012 ● ● ● ● ● ● 7 12x42x32

Rega P3-24/Elys 2 508 11.07/GT ★★★★★ Best turntable up to £300–£600, Awards 2010 ● ● ● ● 8 12x45x36

Rega RP1 225 Aw.10/FT ★★★★★ Best turntable up to £400, Awards 2011 ● ● ● ● ● 3 12x45x36

Rega RP3/Elys2 550 10.11/FT ★★★★★ Best turntable £400-£800, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR ● ● ● ● ● 3 10x45x36

TDK ETVT20102 350 01.12/FT ★★★★★ A neat solution to archive your vinyl ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 11x45x38

£1000 and above

Clearaudio Emotion SE 2110 11.09/FT ★★★★★ For the money, this is an excellent performer ● ● ● ● ● 1 8x40x32

Clearaudio Performance SE 2660 08.12/FT ★★★★★ Quality engineering and top-class sound ● ● ● ● ● 2 13x42x33

Kuzma Stabi S/Stogi S 2940 04.10/FT ★★★★★ A worthy alternative to the Michell Orbe ● ● ● ● 1 14x40x30

Linn Majik LP12 2350 03.09/FT ★★★★★ The LP12 offers great value for money with no compromise ● ● ● ● ● 5 14x45x36

Michell Gyro. SE/TecnoArm A 1478 09.08/FT ★★★★★ Packs a sublime punch – it makes listening a pleasure ● ● ● 1 19x41x53

Michell Orbe SE/Tecnoarm A 2675 01.09/FT ★★★★★ Don’t buy anything without hearing this deckfirst ● ● ● 2 26x64x53

Origin Live Calypso package 2440 12.11/FT ★★★★★ Impressive package, but lacks some attention to detail ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 14x45x38

Pro-Ject 2 Xperience X-Pack 1000 08.10/GT ★★★★★ Precision and integration to keep it among the top players ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 14x46x39

P’Ject Xten./Ortof. RS-309D 4000 07.09/FT ★★★★★ Proves Pro-ject can compete at all price levels ● ● ● ● ● ● 4 25x55x45

Rega RP6/Exact 1000 11.12/FT ★★★★★ Best turntable £800+, Awards 2013 ● ● ● ● ● ● 8 12x45x36

Roksan Radius 5.2 1375 Aw.09/FT ★★★★★ Best turntable £1200+, Awards 2010. Superb performance ● ● ● ● 8 15x45x37

Roksan Xerxes 20 Plus (Pack) 6275 10.08/FT ★★★★★ A truly exceptional turntable ● ● ● ● ● 3 12x45x37

ThorensTD160HD/TP250 1560 10.08/GT ★★★★★ One of the best at this price ● ● ● ● 1 18x43x34

ThorensTD309 1250 06.10/FT ★★★★★ TheTD309 is a good deck, but it’s noTD160HD on the cheap ● ● ● ● ● ● 2 13x47x43

Townshend Rock 7 1500 09.09/FT ★★★★★ It’s got its quirks, but it’s great value for the money ● ● ● 1 15x40x34

Radios
DAB Digital radio signal that now offers coverage over most of the UK
Internet Allows you to listen to thousands of radio stations from around the world

Ourrecommendations

Dimensions
(hwd, cm)
Internet
Battery
DAB

MW
Product £ Tested Verdict FM

Up to £100
Aves Air 50 09.13/GT ★★★★★ A neat, lightweight radio that’s fine for listening on the go ● ● ● 10x6x2

iLuv Vibro ClassicII 50 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Up-to-date compatibility with Apple devices, but at an old-school price ● 7x23x8

Pure Digital Elan II 99 01.10/GT ★★★★★ Classy and natural - another joy from Pure ● ● ● 16x28x9

Pure Digital Move 2500 90 11.11/FT ★★★★★ A great performer in the right circumstances ● ● ● 10x6x1.5

Pure Digital Move 400D 90 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Perfect for on-the-go casual listening, but not as your main home radio ● ● ● 8.5x15x2.7

Pure Digital One ClassicII 65 Aw.11/FT ★★★★★ An upgrade of an established favourite ● ● ● 15x21x7

Pure Evoke D2 85 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Best Radio up to £100, Awards 2013 ● ● ● 15x21x7

Q2 Internet radio 90 03.11/FT ★★★★★ No-frills wi-fi radio that sounds great for its size ● ● ● ● 10x10x10

Roberts Duologic 75 01.10/GT ★★★★★ User friendly and sleek – with great sound ● ● ● 15x25x83

Roberts Expression 90 12.11/GT ★★★★★ Sweet sounds, and sophisticated retro looks ● ● ● 18x26x90

Sony XDR-S16 80 12.11/GT ★★★★★ An uncomplicatedly chunky listen ● ● 14x27x11

TangentTrio DAB 90 01.11/GT ★★★★★ Fine value, smart-looking and future proof ● ● 17x33x20

View Quest WiFi200 80 01.11/FT ★★★★★ A handy, portable wi-fi internet radio ● ● 73x125x23

£100 and above

Geneva World Radio DAB+ 270 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Best Radio £200+, Awards 2013 ● ● ● 17x30x7

Magicbox Nocturne XP-2 170 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Much more of a saint than a sinner, so well worth considering ● ● ● 17x30x15

Philips Original Radio Mini 110 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Terrificsound and features makes this radio an appealing buy ● ● 25x12x12

Pure Digital Avanti Flow i’net 250 12.10/GT ★★★★★ A genuine alternative to a micro system ● ● ● ● 13 x39x23

Pure Digital Evoke Flow 150 05.10/GT ★★★★★ Internet and DAB-capable radio that’s a delight to use and listen to ● ● ● ● 18x21x11

Pure Digital Evoke-1S Marshall 120 01.11/FT ★★★★★ A quirky and appealing style classic ● ● 17x22x12

Pure Evoke F4 180 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best Radio £100-£200, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR ● ● ● ● 18x21x11

Pure Digital Oasis Flow 170 09.10/FT ★★★★★ Weatherproof, but its sound-per-pound ratio can be bettered ● ● ● ● 23x16x14

Pure Digital One Flow 100 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Best Internet Radio up to £150, Awards 2012 ● ● ● 15x21x8

Pure Digital Sensia 250 01.10/FT ★★★★★ Plenty to offer: add to your shortlist of portable internet radios ● ● ● 17 x 28 x 18

Revo AXiS 200 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Product of the Year - Radios, Awards 2011 ● ● ● 13x22x15

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 113

 114 HI-FI

RADIOs continued
Hi-fi speakers

Dimensions
(hwd, cm)
Internet
Battery
DAB

MW
Product £ Tested Verdict

FM
£100 and above
Revo AXiS XS 200 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Best Internet Radio £150+, Awards 2012 ● ● ● 12.5x22x15

Revo AXiS X3 200 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Great radio and a nice little streamer ● ● ● 12.5x22x15

Revo Domino D3 170 05.10/GT ★★★★★ There’s lots to like here, but sound is a bit bottom-heavy ● ● ● 14x22x13

Revo Heritage 230 03.10/FT ★★★★★ Beyond reproach on paper, but comes up a bit short with sound ● ● ● 18x26x10

Revo Pico RadioStation 170 12.10/FT ★★★★★ A fine little radio/streamer for bathroom and kitchen ● ● ● ● 17x11x11

Revo Pixis 100 09.13/GT ★★★★★ A decent rather than ground-breaking effort from Revo. Worth an audition ● ● 13x16x16

Roberts Revival Cath Kidston 200 01.11/GT ★★★★★ Cath Kidston’s flower-power version of this fine sounding radio ● ● 23x16x12

Roberts Revival iStream 200 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Fifties style meets modern functionality ● ● ● ● 15x25x13

Roberts Stream 83i 150 05.10/GT ★★★★★ Good in most areas, but the 83i needs a more balanced sound ● ● ● 21x25x13

RuarkAudio R1 MkII 160 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Best DAB/FM radio, Awards 2012 ● ● 18x13x14

Tangent Uno 100 01.09/GT ★★★★★ With a sound like this, it should be on your list ● ● 13x19x13

Tivoli Albergo+ 200 02.14/FT ★★★★★ On the expensive side, but a neat unit nonetheless ● ● ● 11x19x11

Tivoli Model 10+ 160 09.13/GT ★★★★★ A good table-top offering at an affordable price ● ● 20x12x12

View Quest Retro 1 100 12.11/GT ★★★★★ A neat, talented portable radio that deserves an audition ● ● ● 16x28x9

Hi-fispeakers
Standmounters Usually smaller speakers that need to be put on a stand, not bookshelves
Floorstanders Larger speakers that tend to go louder and deeper than standmounters
Powered Have built-in amplifiers and need mains power to work

Ourrecommendations

Floorstander
Standmount

Dimensions
(hwd,cm)
Powered
Finishes
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £200
AcousticEnergyCompact 1 150 10.11/FT ★★★★★ Stylish looks meet grown-up performance ● 2 22x15x20

Audioengine P4 183 02.10/FT ★★★★★ Small in size, huge in sound: a must-audition pair ● 3 23x14x17

Cambridge Audio S30 120 07.07/FT ★★★★★ Has an air of quality that extends from its build to its sound ● 2 23x16x22

Mission MX1 150 06.11/GT ★★★★★ Best stereo speakers up to £150, Awards 2010. A real return to form from Mission ● 4 28x17x26

Q Acoustics 2010i 120 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Set the standard at this price and size level ● 4 23x20x15

Q Acoustics 2020i 165 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Best stereo speakers up to £200, Awards 2013 ● 4 26x17x28

SoundScience Frankenspiel FS-1 130 07.12/ST ★★★★★ Best Budget desktop speakers, Awards 2011 ● 1 9x9x9

SoundScience QSB 85 04.11/FT ★★★★★ Compact, clever and with a big detailed sound ● 1 85x85x85

£200-£500
AcousticEnergy Neo One V2 210 08.11/GT ★★★★★ Real ability in most areas but they don’t quite gel ● 2 36x18x23

Acoust. Energy Neo V2Three 399 09.10/FT ★★★★★ Much to like, but not quite all-rounders ● 2 91x20x24

AcousticEnergy 301 425 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Very good speakers for the money, definitely worthy of consideration ● 2 30x19x25

Audioengine A5+ 290 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Bigger, better and more flexible than the originals ● 3 27x18x20

Arcaydis DM1 299 10.10/GT ★★★★★ These brilliant DM1s will give every rival below £450 a fright ● 4 30x16x21

Bose Companion 20 200 05.13/GT ★★★★★ Solid, reliable speakers for buyers on a tight budget ● 1 22x9x12

Bose Computer MusicMonitor 250 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Enjoyable sound for a speaker this small ● 2 12x7x12

Boston Acoustics A-25 200 08.11/GT ★★★★★ Classy and likeable speakers ● 3 27x18x23

Boston Acoustics A-26 260 01.12/ST ★★★★★ A beautifully accomplished standmounter ● 2 33x21x27

B&W 685 400 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Superb Award-winning speakers from B&W ● 4 34x20x33

B&W MM-1 399 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Still good, but there’s better available ● 1 17x10x10

Cambridge Audio SLA-25 200 05.12/GT ★★★★★ Not at all bad, but some rivals are better ● 8 22x15x18

Cambridge Audio SX-60 200 09.13/FT ★★★★★ Impressive speakers but they could do with more refinement ● 2 34x20x27

Castle Knight 2 400 02.11/GT ★★★★★ Good, but not as adapatable as we’d like ● 8 38x20x34

Dali Lektor 1 250 10.09/GT ★★★★★ As musically enjoyable as you’ll buy at this price ● 2 26x15x21

Dali Lektor 2 299 03.10/GT ★★★★★ Seriously entertaining speakers and simply stunning at this money ● 2 31x18x22

Dali Lektor 3 450 08.09/GT ★★★★★ Bigger isn’t always better, as the Lektor 3s prove ● 2 39x20x26

Dali Zensor 1 200 08.11/GT ★★★★★ These brilliant budget standmounters demand a listen ● 2 27x16x22

Dali Zensor 3 300 01.14/FT ★★★★★ If it’s entertainment you crave, then these standmounters deliver in spades ● 3 35x21x29

EB Acoustics EB1 470 08.09/GT ★★★★★ You’ll have trouble faulting these nifty standmounters ● 2 31x17x27

Epos Epic1 325 04.11/FT ★★★★★ Punchy and exciting but they can’t deliver all-round ability ● 2 31x19x25

Focal Chorus 706V 390 03.11/FT ★★★★★ Thoroughly enjoyable but they may not cut it with dance music ● 3 39x22x29

Focal XS Book 300 07.12/GT ★★★★★ A potent-sounding speaker that brings hi-fi listening to your desktop ● 1 28x11x20

Focal XS Book Wireless 300 10.13/FT ★★★★★ Stacks of detail but not quite the measure of their rivals ● 1 28x11x20

114 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 HI-FI 115

Hi-fi speakers
SPEAKERScontinued

Floorstander
Standmount

Dimensions
(hwd,cm)
Powered
Finishes
Product £ Tested Verdict
KEF Q300 450 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Not quite at the top anymore, but still fine, engaging standmounters ● 3 36x21x30

Leema Xero 495 07.08/GT ★★★★★ Not a true all-rounder, but loaded with talent ● 5 25x25x16

Monitor Audio Bronze BX 1 200 05.11/FT ★★★★★ Stylish as you like, but not the complete article ● 4 26x17x18

Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 250 07.12/ST ★★★★★ Best stereo speakers £200-£350, Awards 2012 ● 4 35x19x26

Monitor Audio Silver RX1 425 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Well-made and refined speakers, just lacking the flexibility of its rivals ● 6 31x19x24

Mordaunt-Short Aviano 1XR 250 01.12/ST ★★★★★ Still great, but the rivals have caught up ● 1 28x18x27

Mordaunt-Short Aviano 2 300 03.10/FT ★★★★★ Plenty of bang for your buck, and more besides ● 3 32x21x30

Mission MX2 200 08.11/GT ★★★★★ Dynamicenough but maybe too exciting ● 4 34x21x31

Mission MX3 350 11.11/GT ★★★★★ Peppy and communicative floorstanders ● 4 82x17x34

Q Acoustics Concept 20 350 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Best stereo speakers £200-£400, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR ● 2 26x17x28

Q Acoustics Q-BT3 350 03.14/FT ★★★★★ There are few products as versatile and as easy to like as the Q-BT3s at this price ● 4 31x19x24

Q Acoustics 2050i 440 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Best floorstander £400-£800, Awards 2013 ● 4 100x32x27

Quad 11LClassic 330 Aw.10/FT ★★★★★ Impressive standmounters but lack a touch of sparkle ● 4 31x19x24

RuarkAudio MR1 300 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Best desktop speakers, Awards 2013 ● 3 17x13x14

Tangent Evo 5 200 05.09/FT ★★★★★ Considered, grown-up and a supremely easy listen ● 2 23x15x20

Tannoy Mercury V4 380 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Best floorstander £350-£700, Awards 2011 ● 2 97x20x28

Tannoy Mercury V4i 400 01.14/FT ★★★★★ An exciting and punchy listen, but it comes with compromises ● 1 100x20x28

Tannoy Revolution DC4 380 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Well worth considering if your listening room isn’t too big ● 2 27x15x16

Tannoy Revolution DC6 400 10.12/GT ★★★★★ Best standmounter £350-£700, Awards 2012 ● 1 36.5x20x25

Teufel Ultima 60 368 12.09/FT ★★★★★ Bargain speakers with a big, bold sound that’s engaging and exciting ● 1 103x21x32

Triangle Color 470 06.11/FT ★★★★★ Small, but perfectly formed ● 3 29x17x24

Wharfedale Diamond 121 230 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Fabulous sound. For insight and entertainment, the 121s needn’t fear any rival ● 7 32x17x23

£500-£1500
AcousticEnergy AE1 Classic 1000 07.11/GT ★★★★★ A classic yes, but not the best around ● 2 30x18x26

AcousticEnergy AE22 Active 899 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Talented active speakers not easily matched ● 1 25x35x30

Audio Pro LV2e 700 09.12/FT ★★★★★ Wireless desktop speakers with a hi-fi flourish 3 98x14x24

Audiovector Ki1 Super 800 04.12/GT ★★★★★ These pint-sized speakers lackfar-reaching dynamics, but are easy to live with ● 5 98x14x24

Audiovector Ki3 Standard 1200 03.12/FT ★★★★★ Packed with resolution and speed ● 5 98x14x24

Arcaydis SM35C 850 08.09/FT ★★★★★ If you want a quality small standmounter, audition these ● 3 30x16x14

ATCSCM11 1200 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best standmounter £800-£1500, Awards 2013 ● 2 38x21x25

AVI ADM9.1 1125 07.12/GT ★★★★★ A simple way to make the most of your music ● 5 30x20x26

B&W 684 700 12.09/GT ★★★★★ Still a fine product after all these years ● 4 91x20x30

B&W CM8 1250 08.11/FT ★★★★★ Stunning in some ways but not the last word in integration ● 4 96x25x30

B&W XT2 700 07.08/GT ★★★★★ Classy, sophisticated but the sound lacks bite ● 2 31x15x20

Cabasse Minorca MC40 720 02.11/FT ★★★★★ Ideal for those who like finger-snapping ability ● 2 40x23x28

Dali Ikon 6 MK2 1200 09.10/FT ★★★★★ Cleaner, clearer and more insightful than its forerunner ● 3 100x19x36

Dali Lektor 6 750 12.08/FT ★★★★★ Only the bass stops these good speakers becoming great ● 3 26x16x14

Dali Lektor 8 1200 04.10/FT ★★★★★ Likeable as long as you can live with the size and bass ● 2 106x27x37

Dali Mentor Menuet 900 07.12/ST ★★★★★ These Menuets are something of a gem ● 2 25x15x23

Dali Zensor 5 549 11.11/GT ★★★★★ Compact and affordable floorstanders ● 2 84x16x27

Dali Zensor 7 729 06.12/FT ★★★★★ Not flawless, but musical and enjoyable performers ● 3 98x21x31

Dynaudio DM 2/6 535 02.10/FT ★★★★★ Best stereo speakers £300-£600, Awards 2010. Just the right amount of sparkle at the top end ● 2 29x17x24

Dynaudio DM 2/7 600 08.09/GT ★★★★★ A seriously competitive speaker at this price point ● 1 36x22x27

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 115

 116 HI-FI

SPEAKERScontinued
Hi-fi speakers

Floorstander
Standmount

Dimensions
(hwd,cm)
Powered
Finishes
Product £ Tested Verdict
£500-£1500
Dynaudio DM3/7 1300 01.11/FT ★★★★★ Plenty of positives in this mid-range floorstander ● 2 96x20x27

Dynaudio Excite X14 945 12.13/ST ★★★★★ A crisp and clean sound is shortchanged by a lack of versatility ● 29x17x26

Dynaudio MC-15 780 09.08/GT ★★★★★ Well-executed active speakers ● 1 26x17x24

Dynaudio Xeo 3 1365 07.12/ST ★★★★★ Versatile wireless speakers ● 2 28x17x26

EB Acoustics EB2 669 09.10/GT ★★★★★ Remarkable performers that should worry the competition ● 2 45x23x30

EclipseTD508 Mk3 960 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Not an all-rounder, but still a rather special speaker ● 3 29x18x27

Edwards Audio SP1 550 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Enjoyable performers but up against top-quality competition at this price level ● 4 31x17x25

ElacBS243 1050 07.11/GT ★★★★★ These standmounters crave excitement ● 5 29x17x22

Elipson Planet L 600 02.12/FT ★★★★★ Charming in many ways, with good transparency ● 3 40x42x43

Epos Epic5 750 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Hugely likeable floorstanders with broad sonicappeal ● 2 92x21x32

Guru Junior 800 12.13/ST ★★★★★ A rather mundane appearance is excused by some very expressive sound ● 3 28x18x24

Focal Aria 906 760 12.13/ST ★★★★★ For scale, power and refinement, you won’t find many better ● 2 30x30x28

JBLStudio 530 650 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Odd looking - but fun sounding and refined ● 1 47x21x22

KEF LS50 800 12.13/ST ★★★★★ Best standmounter £400-£800, Awards 2013 ● 1 30x20x28

KEF R100 600 08.12/FT ★★★★★ These are extremely talented stand-mounters ● 4 28x18x29

KEF X300A 600 09.13/FT ★★★★★ A smooth, relaxed sound that lacks punch and dynamics ● 1 28x18x24

Kudos X2 1450 03.11/GT ★★★★★ These floorstanders have much to recommend them ● 6 78x17x21

Klipsch RB-81 540 08.09/GT ★★★★★ If you like to party hard, audition these Klipschs ● 2 48x24x31

Leema Xone 995 10.09/FT ★★★★★ In certain areas nothing else comes close at this pricepoint ● 6 85x14x21

MAD 1920 1350 09.12/FT ★★★★★ Impressive and powerful. although not as precise as its peers ● 5 28x19x23

Martin Logan Motion 15 795 12.13/ST ★★★★★ Needs a bit more authority but let loose in a smaller room they can really sing ● 2 29x13x24

Mission SX2 700 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Dependable and capable, the SX2s product an authoritative sound at a fine price ● 5 38x23x37

Monitor Audio Bronze BX5 500 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Fine, refined speakers but outclassed by stronger newcomers ● 4 85x17x25

Monitor Audio Gold GX50 950 12.13/ST ★★★★★ Still good and still great looking, but loses out to rivals in terms of musical engagement ● 5 30x17x26

Monitor Audio Silver 6 1000 12.13/FT ★★★★★ The Silver 6s reveal plenty of detail, but there are better all-rounders out there ● 6 89x19x24

116 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 HI-FI 117

Hi-fi speakers
SPEAKERScontinued

Floorstander
Standmount

Dimensions
(hwd,cm)
Powered
Finishes
Product £ Tested Verdict
Monitor Audio Silver RX2 630 10.12/GT ★★★★★ A lot of speaker and a lot of sound ● 6 37.5x23x30

Monitor Audio Silver RX6 800 12.09/GT ★★★★★ A sensational product from Monitor Audio – detailed, dynamicand very attractive, too ● 6 91x28x31

Monitor Audio Silver RX8 1050 06.10/FT ★★★★★ If you’re addicted to bass, these floostanders will suit you ● 6 96x28x39

Monitor Audio SoundFrame 1 900 02.12/GT ★★★★★ An impressive alternative to conventional speakers 2 54x39x9

Mordaunt-Short Aviano 6 600 01.10/FT ★★★★★ A fine all-rounder, with power and bass in spades, and plenty more besides ● 3 95x21x30

Mordaunt-Short Aviano 8 750 12.09/GT ★★★★★ Great speakers for sure, but too controlled ● 3 95x21x32

Mordaunt-Short Mezzo 6 800 11.08/GT ★★★★★ Possibly the best in their class ● 2 100x22x28

Mordaunt-Short Mezzo 8 1000 03.09/FT ★★★★★ Not the best all-rounders in the Mezzo range, but still very likeable ● 2 107x22x31

Mission MX-5 600 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Physically and sonically impressive ● 4 100x25x39

Mission SX1 700 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Almost mission accomplished. Hugely capable but not as entertaining as the class leaders ● 5 31x19x29

Neat Iota 695 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Attractive but with a hefty sound too ● 5 13x20x17

Neat Motive 1 1350 02.09/GT ★★★★★ Charming unique speakers - they lean backwards ● 4 93x16x20

Neat Motive 2 945 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Cohesive, authoritative and downright exciting ● 4 77x16x20

Neat Petite SX 1250 01.12/ST ★★★★★ Small and perfectly formed standmounters ● 6 31x20x18

PMCDB1i 1050 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Superbly detailed and rewarding small speakers ● 4 29x16x23

PMCTwenty 21 1485 10.13/GT ★★★★★ If you’re looking for a top-class pair of standmounters, these are well worth a listen ● 4 33x15x28

Opera Mezza 850 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Suave-looking and good-sounding, but these don’t possess the sonicassertiveness of some ● 3 32x20x33

Quad 12LClassic 500 11.11/FT ★★★★★ There’s plenty to admire here ● 4 34x21x28

Rega RS3 780 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Floorstanders that are effortless with dynamics ● 3 80x22x25

Revolver Music3 650 06.10/FT ★★★★★ Big, bold looks disguise an easy-going character ● 4 39x21x28

Revolver Music5 1300 02.10/FT ★★★★★ Fine all-rounders with the power to fill larger rooms ● 4 93x25x32

RuarkAcoustics Sabre III 899 06.09/GT ★★★★★ Communicate musicso well they demand to be auditioned ● 2 34x20x27

Roksan Kandy K2TR-5 750 06.09/GT ★★★★★ Stunning speakers that deserve to be labelled as contenders for class-leading status ● 1 37x19x28

SpendorS3/5R2 850 07.11/GT ★★★★★ A little less than the sum of their parts ● 4 31x17x18

Tangent Evo E45 650 12.09/GT ★★★★★ For those who like an exciting and exuberant listen ● 2 100x15x26

Tannoy Precision 6.1 900 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Rhythmic, detailed speakers but a lack of solidity leaves them sounding unbalanced ● 2 33x22x26

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 117

 118 HI-FI

SPEAKERScontinued
Hi-fi speakers

Floorstander
Standmount

Dimensions
(hwd,cm)
Powered
Finishes
Product £ Tested Verdict
£500-£1500
Tannoy Revolution DC6 SE 700 12.13/FT ★★★★★ Responsive with a good sense of cohesion. Could do with a little more spark ● 1 37x20x24

Tannoy Revolution DC6T 799 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Best floorstander £700-£1500, Awards 2011 ● 1 95x26x29

Tannoy Revolution DC6TSE 1000 09.12/FT ★★★★★ Best floorstander £800-£1500, Awards 2013 ● 1 100x31x28

Tannoy Rev. Sig. DC4 600 07.12/GT ★★★★★ DC4s are still appealing across the board ● 2 27x17x18

Totem Rainmaker 1095 06.10/FT ★★★★★ Hugely musical, and a pleasure to listen to ● 4 36x17x23

Triangle Color 123 600 08.12/FT ★★★★★ A brilliant desktop speaker package 3 14x14x14

Triangle Comete Anniv. 950 12.10/FT ★★★★★ Ideal for injecting energy into your music ● 1 42x20x34

Vienna Ac. Haydn Grand 1000 10.10/FT ★★★★★ Beautifully built, they pack a sweet sonicpunch that’s focused and purposeful ● 5 36x17x27

Wharfedale Denton 500 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Relaxed yet engaging sound has a lot of appeal ● 1 32x20x31

Wharfedale Diamond 155 500 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Class leaders when it comes to sound, but let down by average build quality ● 7 94x20x31

£1500 and above

AcousticEnergy Reference 1 1500 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Terrificall-rounders for the money ● 1 31x19x28

ADAM Aud. ClassicCompact 3 2800 06.10/GT ★★★★★ For those who like their musicear-poppingly loud ● 1 44x23x29

ADAM AudioTensor Gamma 12500 05.09/FT ★★★★★ Quite possibly the best speakers we’ve seen in a decade ● 2 108x32x34

AudiovectorS1 Avantgarde 2950 03.10/FT ★★★★★ At their best these are stunning, but not for all tastes ● 5 37x19x28

Aurousal VS 1650 04.11/FT ★★★★★ When they’re good, these Aurosal’s are great ● 3 108x22x27

Analysis Audio Omega 14500 08.11/FT ★★★★★ These planar floorstanders are a sonictreat ● 1 168x61x6

ATCSCM 100A 11615 04.11/FT ★★★★★ Massively talented and proportioned ● 4 107x40x56

Beauhorn Rhapsody B2 2750 10.07/FT ★★★★★ Outlandish shape but treat them right and you’ll be deeply rewarded ● 98 120x34x75

B&O BeoLab 9 5060 05.07/FT ★★★★★ Work not just as style but in hi-fi terms too ● 4 78x40x430

B&O BeoLab5 11000 10.08/FT ★★★★★ Active speakers with outlandish looks that sound fabulous ● 1 97x49x49

B&W 800 Diamond 18000 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Some of the best speakers money can buy ● 3 118x45x65

B&W 805 Diamond 3750 01.11/FT ★★★★★ Good, but easier to admire then really love ● 3 42x24x35

B&W PM1 1995 03.12/GT ★★★★★ Best standmounter £1500+, Awards 2011 ● 1 33x19x30

Burmester B10 3220 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Well built, well refined and an engaging listen. We’re in love ● 3 39x22x28

Dali Epicon 2 3750 01.13/FT ★★★★★ Reinforces Dali’s reputation for making top-class speakers ● 3 39x21x37

Dali Epicon 8 11500 08.13/FT ★★★★★ Give them space and they’ll deliver a muscular, enthusiasticsound ● 3 126x35x50

Dali Fazon F5 2700 12.11/FT ★★★★★ Stylish deliverers of audiophile sound ● 3 92x28x32

Dali Helicon 300 Mk2 2100 02.08/FT ★★★★★ Excellent midrange; woolly bass ● 2 44x21x40

Dali Mentor 6 2200 02.07/FT ★★★★★ Dynamicfloorstanders that are really fast and agile ● 1 40x8x15

Dynaudio Confidence C1 5325 08.08/FT ★★★★★ Set up with care, the C1s are quite exceptional ● 4 45x20x43

Dynaudio Excite X32 1765 02.09/GT ★★★★★ These pack an eloquent, expansive sound ● 4 92x17x27

Dynaudio Focus 110A 1700 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Fun, flexible and hugely capable active speakers ● 6 31x17x32

Dynaudio Focus 160 1800 03.12/GT ★★★★★ Just do the job and don’t intrude on the entertainment ● 6 35x20x29

Dynaudio Focus 220 Mk II 2630 10.09/FT ★★★★★ These Dynaudios are fine speakers; all they lack is a little star quality ● 4 98x21x30

Diapason Astera 6050 02.11/FT ★★★★★ Spellbinding performance with the right kind of music ● 1 38x26x44

EclipseTD 510Z Mk2 3840 08.12/FT ★★★★★ Superb timing, detail and imaging ● 3 98x38x39

EclipseTD 712z Mk2 6500 10.13/GT ★★★★★ They have a few compromises but their strengths can’t be matched at any price ● 4 99x35x43

Focal Diablo Utopia 7686 12.12/FT ★★★★★ When it comes to levels of insight, little at this price even comes close ● Any 43x26x43

Focal SM9 4580 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Intended for professional use, the SM9s work brilliantly as home speakers ● 1 32x49x39

Focal Easya 1800 11.13/FT ★★★★★ Convenient and easy to use, these Focals are compromised by a relaxed delivery ● 2 90x17x24

Tips for going digital BuyaCD,ripit,andthennevertouchitagain–butlistentoitanywhere.

Hereareafewthingstoconsiderwhenmakingthejumpfromdisctodigital

Synology DS212j Always rip to the Cambridge Audio Minx Xi

£300
Get adequate storage
Music collections generally only expand, so equip
yourself with a large hard-drive (or one that can be
upgraded in the future). Synology’s DS212j is a fine
choice (although there’s an updated model), and
it’s compatible with just about every streaming
device. AirPlay functionality is standard; handy
for those with AirPlay-enabled players.
maximum resolution
Use the good stuff
If you’re going to plump for a 1TB+ drive then
storing your library as 128kbps MP3s is pointless.
You’ll be able to fit more tracks but the quality
would suffer when compared with CD-quality
rips. Instead, we’d would opt for uncompressed
audio, Apple Lossless or FLAC. As the saying
goes: rubbish in, rubbish out…
£600
Try before you buy
Being able to access a stack of albums is only fun
if you’re in tune with your navigation interface.
Some storage devices can be a pain to set up,
while some music streamers may have limited
connectivity options, or require add-ons to
enable functionality. Try out different systems
before parting with any cash.

118 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 HI-FI 119

Hi-Fi Speakers
SPEAKERScontinued

Floorstander
Standmount

Dimensions
(hwd,cm)
Powered
Finishes
Product £ Tested Verdict
GamuT M’inenT M3 5140 03.14/FT ★★★★★ These are some of the best standmounters we’ve ever heard ● 10 40x23x46

Image Audio IA8 2000 02.12/GT ★★★★★ Deeply impressive wall-mounted alternatives to convention 1 59x48x10

Jamo R907 5500 04.09/FT ★★★★★ The innovative R907s are stunningly capable speakers ● 1 119x44x19

JBLStudio 580 1500 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Hugely capable floorstanders for the money ● 2 107x25x35

KEF Reference 207/2 12000 10.08/FT ★★★★★ Big, bold and stunningly built, they major on bass ● 4 123x40x69

Kudos Cardea C30 5650 07.10/FT ★★★★★ Ideal if musical enjoyment is your top priority ● 7 112x20x27

Linn Akubarik 15600 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Deeply impressive engineering but its presentation veers towards the clinical ● 200+ 105x35x45

Monopulse 42A 2000 07.09/GT ★★★★★ Odd appearance apart, there’s an awful lot to like about these Monopulses ● 10 108x23x25

Monitor Audio Gold GX200 2300 03.12/FT ★★★★★ Pretty looks and excellent refinement ● 2 90x17x30

Mon. Audio Platinum PL300 6000 03.08/FT ★★★★★ Its been a long time coming, and it is well worth the wait ● 3 111x41x47

Naim OvatorS-400 3650 10.13/GT ★★★★★ The most rounded Naim speaker we’ve heard ● 5 106x33x35

Neat Ultimatum XLS 4500 09.12/FT ★★★★★ An entertainer of the highest order if partnered with care ● 9 38x22x37

Opera Callas 2375 01.09/FT ★★★★★ Arguably the best standmounter at this price level ● 3 37x23x34

PMCFact 3 4100 08.11/FT ★★★★★ Hugely caxpable but a touch overcontrolled ● 4 54x16x30

PMCFact 8 4700 04.10/FT ★★★★★ These PMCfloorstanders are quite simply magical - even at this price ● 4 103x15x38

PMCPB1i 5850 09.09/GT ★★★★★ Simply excellent speakers: big, bold and accomplished ● 1 108x20x40

PMCTwenty 22 1970 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Best standmounter £1500+, Awards 2013 ● 4 41x18x37

PMCTwenty 23 2300 02.14/GT ★★★★★ Best floorstander £1500+, Awards 2013 ● 4 92x15x33

PMCWafer 2 2295 02.12/GT ★★★★★ A real achievement for those after proper hi-fi 2 57x35x10

ProAcResponse D18 2145 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Best floorstander £1500+, Awards 2011 ● 6 93x19x27

ProAcResponse D28 3250 07.07/FT ★★★★★ Another excellent pair of floorstanders from ProAc ● 6 108x20x29

ProAcResponse D40/R 6125 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Articulate and dynamic, a top-class pair of floorstanders ● 6 120x21x34

ProAcStudio 140 Mk2 1650 12.10/FT ★★★★★ An entertaning and dynamicperformer ● 4 104x19x28

Quad ESL-2812 6500 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Won’t be to everyone’s tastes but these electrostaticspeakers truly excel ● 1 107x 69 x38

Quad ESL 2905 6000 01.07/FT ★★★★★ A truly world-class speaker ● 1 143x70x39

Tannoy Definition DC10T 5250 10.13/GT ★★★★★ While the DC10Ts aren’t the most refined speakers out there, they’re easy to love ● 3 113x34x32

Tannoy Precision 6.2 1700 10.13/GT ★★★★★ A beautifully balanced and hugely listenable pair of standmounters ● 3 100x31x28

Sonus F. Cremona Auditor M 2690 06.08/FT ★★★★★ One of the best standmounts money can buy ● 2 35x20x37

Sonus F. Liuto Monitor Wood 1649 01.10/FT ★★★★★ These are classy and natural standmounters ● 2 35x19x34

SP Acoustics SP1 Signature 14950 01.11/FT ★★★★★ Able to challenge the very best at this exalted level ● Any 106x35x46

Spendor A5 1695 03.11/GT ★★★★★ The most accomplished speakers for this money ● 4 79x17x25

Spendor A6R 2500 02.14/GT ★★★★★ An outstanding pair of speakers that do very little wrong ● 5 87.5x19x28

Spendor D7 3500 10.13/GT ★★★★★ The finestSpendors in years ● 6 95x20x32

Tannoy Definition DC8 2500 03.12/GT ★★★★★ Capable of seriously controlled sound ● 3 47x27x26

Tannoy Precision 6.4 2200 02.14/GT ★★★★★ If bass is important to you, then these speakers are worth an audition ● 3 105x31x35

Totem Mani-2 Signature 4600 12.10/FT ★★★★★ When it comes to outright enjoyment we can’t think of any rival speakers we prefer for this money ● 4 42x21x31

Triangle Magellan Cello SW2 6699 05.10/FT ★★★★★ A speaker dedicated to actually enjoying music ● 2 114x42x37

Vivid Audio V1.5 5250 11.09/FT ★★★★★ They might look odd, but these are a must hear ● 5 113x26x24

Wharfedale Jade-5 1650 01.12/ST ★★★★★ Floorstanders that pack immense power and poise ● 3 106x25x40

Wilson Audio Duette 11000 10.08/FT ★★★★★ One of the best pairs of speakers we’ve ever heard ● Any 47x23x35

Wilson Audio Sophia 3 16500 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Expensive, but they deliver a stunning sound full of detail, dynamics and drive ● 7 105x35x48

Wilson Benesch A.C.T 8800 08.07/FT ★★★★★ Good looking, solid and superb sounding floorstanders ● 1 108x23x37

Wilson BeneschTrinity 4700 03.08/FT ★★★★★ An awful lot of technology and ability for the money ● 4 108x24x30

SOUND ADVICE
T U R N T A B L E S I L O U D S P E A K E R S I A M P L I F I E R S I C D P L AY E R S I S T R E A M I N G
DAC s I H O M E C I N E M A I C A B L E S I i P H O N E / PA D D O C K S I S E R V I C E & R E PA I R S
R E L A X I N O U R D E M O N S T R AT I O N RO O M S & M A K E A N I N F O R M E D C H O I C E

www.dougbradyhifi.com 01925 828009 I Kingsway Studios, Kingsway North, Warrington WA1 3NU

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 119

Stereo amplifiers 122 HI-FI

Stereoamplifiers
Integrated These amplifiers combine a preamp and power section in one box
Power output A higher number usually means louder, depending on speakers
Digital inputs Some amplifiers now have a DAC built in, which could be useful

Headphone out
Remote control
Ourrecommendations

Tone controls
MM phono in

Speaker outs
MCphono in

Dimensions
Line level in

Preamp out
Tape loops

(hwd, cm)
Power (w)

Finishes
USB in
DAC
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £1000
Audiolab 8200A 750 05.13/ST ★★★★★ Capable, but lacks some subtlety 60 6 0 0 3 ● 1 ● ● 2 7.5x45x34

Arcam FMJ A18 500 06.12/ST ★★★★★ Comfortable, with impressive detail and agility 50 6 1 0 2 ● 1 ● ● ● 1 8.5x43x33

Arcam FMJ A19 650 05.13/ST ★★★★★ BestStereo amp £500-£800, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR 50 6 1 0 1 ● 2 ● ● 1 9x43x28

Cambridge Audio Azur 350A 250 01.12/ST ★★★★★ A budget amp with a decent grasp of timing 45 ● 6 0 0 1 2 ● ● ● 2 9x43x34

Cambridge Audio Azur 351A 300 11.12/FT ★★★★★ Worth considering if you prefer an energeticapproach 45 ● 5 0 0 ● 1 2 ● ● ● 2 9x43x34

Cambridge Audio Azur 651A 450 03.12/FT ★★★★★ Meaty and powerful, but not the most refined 75 ● 5 0 0 1 ● 2 ● ● ● 1 12x43x35

Cambridge AudioTopazSR10 230 06.10/FT ★★★★★ This affordable stereo receiver has plenty to offer 85 5 1 0 1 2 ● ● ● 1 11x43x34

Cyrus 6a 700 06.12/ST ★★★★★ Best stereo amp £600-£1000, Awards 2012 40 6 0 0 0 ● 2 ● ● 2 7x22x36

Cyrus 6XP 925 09.09/FT ★★★★★ Stereo amplifier Product of the Year, Awards 2010 40 6 0 0 1 ● 2 ● ● 2 7x22x36

Denon PMA-710 350 07.10/GT ★★★★★ The most enjoyable Denon amp we’ve heard in ages 50 5 1 0 2 ● 2 ● ● ● 2 12x43x21

Denon PMA-720AE 350 02.13/GT ★★★★★ Entertaining and capable, but sonically stubborn 50 4 1 0 1 ● 1 ● ● ● 2 12x43x31

Icon Audio Stereo 25 500 01.09/FT ★★★★★ The Stereo 25 is superbly made for the money 30 3 0 0 0 1 1 22x32x31

Marantz PM-KI Pearl Lite 900 12.10/FT ★★★★★ Decent peformance at an affordable price 70 3 1 0 2 ● 2 ● ● ● 2 13x44x38

Marantz PM6004 310 01.12/ST ★★★★★ Product of the Year - Stereo amplifiers, Awards 2011 45 5 1 0 1 2 ● ● ● 2 11x44x37

NADC316BEE 260 01.12/ST ★★★★★ A decent listen that’s overshadowed by rivals 40 5 0 0 1 1 ● ● ● 2 8x44x29

NADC326BEE 300 07.10/GT ★★★★★ A really musical amplifier to grace any budget system 50 7 0 0 2 ● 1 ● ● ● 1 10x44x29

NADC356BEE 600 10.10/FT ★★★★★ A party animal of an amplifier 80 7 0 0 2 ● 2 ● ● ● 1 13x44x34

NADC356BEE DAC 695 01.12/FT ★★★★★ A good amplifier with a great DAC 80 ● 8 0 0 ● 2 ● 2 ● ● ● 1 13x44x34

NAD D 3020 400 11.13/FT ★★★★★ Best stereo amp up t0 £500, Awards 2013 30 2 0 0 ● 0 1 ● ● 1 19x6x22

NAD D 7050 800 12.13/FT ★★★★★ Admirable, but not quite the measure of its cheaper rivals 50 ● 0 0 0 ● 0 ● 1 ● ● 1 24x7x27

Naim Nait 5i 875 05.13/ST ★★★★★ A strong all-round performer 50 4 0 0 1 1 ● 1 7x44x31

Naim Nait 5si 925 11.13/FT ★★★★★ Best stereo amp £800-£1500, Awards 2013 60 3 0 0 1 1 ● ● ● 1 7x43x31

Onix A-25 775 05.13/ST ★★★★★ A good choice for those who value finesse over muscle 30 3 0 0 0 ● 1 ● 1 9x21x36

Onkyo A-9030 300 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Proof that Onkyo knows how to build good stereo gear 65 4 1 0 1 2 ● ● 2 14x44x33

Onkyo A-9050 350 02.13/GT ★★★★★ Lean presentation, but there’s plenty to like 75 5 1 0 1 ● 1 ● ● ● 2 14x44x33

Peachtree iDecco 999 01.11/FT ★★★★★ Ideal for a digital based set-up 40 1 0 0 ● 1 ● 1 ● ● 1 13x38x29

Pro-JectStereo BoxS 200 11.11/FT ★★★★★ A small amp that’s worth investigation 40 2 0 0 0 1 ● 2 4x10x10

Pioneer A-A6 350 03.08/FT ★★★★★ Among the most fluent amps under £500 45 3 1 0 ● 1 1 ● ● ● 2 10x42x36

Pioneer A-70 800 05.13/ST ★★★★★ Excels in many areas, falls short of class-leading 90 3 1 1 ● 1 ● 2 ● ● ● 2 14x44x36

Rega Brio-R 480 06.12/ST ★★★★★ Best stereo amp £400-£600, Awards 2012 50 4 1 0 1 1 ● 2 8x22x31

Roksan Kandy K2 795 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Best stereo amp £700-£1000, Awards 2011 125 5 1 0 1 ● 1 ● ● 3 10x43x38

Rotel RA-10 350 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ BestStereo amp UpTo £400, Awards 2012 40 4 1 0 1 ● 2 ● ● 2 7x43x34

Rotel RA-12 600 05.13/ST ★★★★★ Well priced, appealing amp, just lacks a little expression 60 ● 4 1 0 ● 1 ● 1 ● ● ● 2 14x44x36

Wadia 151 PowerDACMini 999 02.12/FT ★★★★★ A compact digital amp with plenty of appeal 25 ● 0 0 0 ● 0 1 ● 1 7x20x20

Yamaha A-S300 195 04.11/FT ★★★★★ Solid performer but you can get better for a little more money 60 6 1 0 1 1 ● ● ● 2 15x44x39

Yamaha A-S500 330 Aw.10/FT ★★★★★ Best stereo amplifier up to £500, Awards 2010. 85 3 1 0 2 2 ● ● ● 2 15x44x39

£1000 and above

Audio Analogue Class A Int. SE 9190 06.11/FT ★★★★★ A fantastic, and sonically rounded performer 50 5 0 0 1 1 ● 1 33x45x41

ATCSIA 2-150 2379 02.10/GT ★★★★★ One of the best amplifiers at this price level 150 4 0 0 1 ● 1 ● ● 1 14x44x35

Bryston B60R 2600 07.09/FT ★★★★★ The Bryston B60R may be unassuming, but has quality 60 4 0 0 1 1 ● ● 2 5x43x28

Cambridge Audio Azur 851A 1200 12.12/GT ★★★★★ For scale, power, build and style, this is hard to beat 120 8 0 0 1 ● 2 ● ● ● 2 12x43x39

Chord Elec. Cyan Click HP 4215 07.10/FT ★★★★★ Stylish, and astonishingly well built too 100 2 0 0 ● 0 1 ● 2 6x34x15

Creek Evolution 5350 1025 06.10/FT ★★★★★ There’s lots to like here, but better available elsewhere 120 5 1 0 0 ● 2 ● ● 1 9x43x34

Cyrus 6XPD 1250 01.12/ST ★★★★★ A sturdy DAC-toting amp that’s a cracker 40 ● 6 0 0 ● 1 ● 2 ● ● 2 7x22x36

Cyrus 8a 1200 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Everything we’ve come to expect and love aboutCyrus 70 5 0 0 1 ● 2 ● ● 2 7x22x36

Cyrus 8 DAC 1400 07.12/FT ★★★★★ Meticulous and engaging amp and DACcombo 70 ● 6 0 0 ● 0 2 ● ● 2 7x22x36

Cyrus 8 XPd 1500 07.09/FT ★★★★★ Sets a sky-high standard at the price point 70 5 0 0 ● 1 ● 1 ● ● 2 7x22x36

Cyrus 8XP 1250 11.09/GT ★★★★★ The Cyrus 8XP misses nothing out in sonicthrills 70 6 0 0 1 ● 1 ● ● 2 7x22x36

Cyrus DACXPSignature 2750 11.13/FT ★★★★★ With the Signature upgrade, the DACXP remains a fine product 70 2 0 0 1 ● 1 ● ● 2 7x22x36

Dartzeel CTH-8550 16858 05.10/FT ★★★★★ Well engineered - but with a colossal price tag 200 7 0 0 1 ● 1 ● 2 17x44x34

Denon PMA-2010AE 1700 02.10/FT ★★★★★ Listen to this amp in full flow and it’s a monster 80 4 1 1 2 ● 2 ● ● ● 1 18x43x44

122 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 HI-FI 123

Headphone out
Remote control
AMPLIFIERScontinued

Stereo amplifiers | Preamps

Tone controls
MM phono in

Speaker outs
MCphono in

Dimensions
Line level in

Preamp out
Tape loops

(hwd, cm)
Power (w)

Finishes
USB in
DAC
Product £ Tested Verdict
Devialet 110 4490 02.14/FT ★★★★★ An exceptional all-rounder 110 ● 1 1 0 ● 0 1 ● 1 4x38x38

Devialet D-Premier 11450 08.12/GT ★★★★★ A fresh look at amp design 240 2 1 1 1 ● 1 ● ● 3 4x40x40

EAR Yoshino V12 7000 07.13/FT ★★★★★ This terrificintegrated amp needn’t fear any rival at this price 50 5 0 0 1 1 1 14x42x14

Heed Audio Obelisk si 1300 06.12/GT ★★★★★ Best stereo amp £1000-£1500, Awards 2012 35 5 1 0 0 ● 1 ● 2 9x22x36

Karan Acoustics KA I180Mk2 5995 09.13/FT ★★★★★ One of the finest amps we’ve heard 180 4 0 0 1 1 ● 2 9x50x34

Lavardin IS Reference 2950 01.10/FT ★★★★★ Amazing: its rivals sound mechanical in comparison 30 4 0 0 1 1 1 8.5x43x35

LeemaTucana Mk II 3595 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Best stereo amplifier £2000+, Awards 2010. 148 7 0 0 1 ● 1 ● ● 2 10x43x36

Leema Elements 1395 12.12/GT ★★★★★ Solid choice, wide connection range and optional DAC 56 ● 3 0 0 ● 0 ● 1 ● ● 2 9x22x28

Myryad MXI2080 1000 08.08/FT ★★★★★ Assiduous, precise presentation 80 6 1 1 1 ● 1 ● ● 1 9x44x38

NADC390DD 2250 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Novel thinking delivers an alternative to the favourites 150 1 0 0 ● 0 ● 2 ● ● ● 1 13x43x39

Naim Nait 5XS 1500 01.12/ST ★★★★★ Still a top class premium amplifier 60 3 0 0 2 ● 1 ● 1 7x43x30

Naim Nait XS 2 1595 10.13/GT ★★★★★ An improvement on the Nait XS, even if it sacrifices a little detail 70 5 1 0 1 ● 1 ● ● 1 7x43x30

Naim Supernait 2 2750 12.13/FT ★★★★★ Even at this price, the Supernait 2 is a fantasticbuy 80 5 0 0 1 ● 1 ● ● 1 9x43x31

Pathos Ethos 3800 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Mixes style and substance better than any rival 100 7 0 0 ● 0 ● 1 ● 1 15x43x49

Pathos InpolRemix 3800 01.12/FT ★★★★★ Not cheap or powerful - just brilliant 10 1 0 0 0 ● 1 ● 2 18x33x29

Pathos Logos 3650 09.08/FT ★★★★★ An inspirational amp: wonderful with all music 110 6 0 0 1 2 ● 1 15x48x22

Plinius Hautonga 4455 07.11/FT ★★★★★ A powerhouse of an integrated amplifier 200 5 1 1 2 ● 1 ● 2 12x45x50

Plinius Hiato 6759 08.09/FT ★★★★★ If you’re after a top class amplifier the Hiato is for you 300 5 0 0 1 ● 1 ● 2 17x45x45

Quad II ClassicIntegrated 4500 04.10/FT ★★★★★ A fine integrated amplifier with a hefty price tag 25 3 1 1 1 1 1 20x31x38

Rega Osiris 5998 06.10/FT ★★★★★ A fine amp that makes sense partnering its Isis sibling 162 6 0 0 1 1 ● 1 12x44x35

Rega Elicit-R 1600 10.13/GT ★★★★★ This is truly a fantasticamplifier 105 5 1 0 1 ● 1 ● 1 8x43x34

Roksan Caspian M2 1695 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Best stereo amplifier £1500+, Awards 2013 85 5 0 0 1 ● 1 ● 2 8x43x33

Synthesis Shine 2449 07.10/FT ★★★★★ This valve design needs sensitive speakers to fly 40 5 0 0 1 1 ● 4 16x32x22

T+A PA 3000 HV 9900 11.13/FT ★★★★★ A truly impressive piece of kit despite its polite disposition 300 6 0 0 0 1 ● ● 1 17x46x46

Unison Research Preludio 2295 02.10/GT ★★★★★ Rubs shoulders with the very best at this price 14 4 0 0 1 1 1 20x40x38

Unison Research S6 2995 05.11/FT ★★★★★ In the right system, the S6 is truly magical 33 5 0 0 1 1 ● 2 21x35x49

Unison Research S9 6995 02.10/FT ★★★★★ We can’t help but love this quirky valve amplifier 35 4 0 0 0 1 ● 1 25x41x57

Unison Research Simply Italy 1495 09.12/FT ★★★★★ A well-engineered valve amplifier at a sensible price 12 5 0 0 1 1 ● 2 26x19x35

Preamps
Preamps are also known as control units. On a most basic level, they perform two functions:
source selection and volume control. Most powered preamps also amplify the signal slightly
in order to make matching to a power amplifier easier. Some include phono stages. Headphone out

Remote control
Ourrecommendations
Tone controls
MM phono in

Balanced out
MCphono in

Dimensions
Line level in

Preamp out
Tape loops

(hwd, cm)
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £5000
Audio Research LS17 3399 01.09/FT ★★★★★ This top quality product should serve you for decades 7 0 0 1 ● ● ● 14x48x31

Audionet Pre 1 G3 3525 01.10/FT ★★★★★ As revealing as amplifiers get for the money 5 0 0 1 ● ● ● ● 7x43x31

ATCCA-2 1058 12.09/FT ★★★★★ A matchless preamp when paired with the P1 power amp 5 0 0 1 ● ● ● ● 9x44x32

Cyrus DACXP+ 2550 04.11/FT ★★★★★ Massive ability in a small box 2 0 0 1 ● ● ● 7x22x36

Cyrus Pre XP d 1300 02.10/GT ★★★★★ Works wonders when coupled with the matching 8 power amp 6 0 0 0 ● ● ● 7x22x36

Heed Audio Obelisk pre/px 2230 04.13/FT ★★★★★ A superb-sounding preamp, but Heed needs to make it feel more luxurious 5 0 0 1 ● ● 9x22x33

Lavardin C62 3471 12.10/FT ★★★★★ Belongs near the top of any shortlist 6 0 0 1 ● 9x43x31

Leema Pyxis 3995 11.11/FT ★★★★★ A versatile, enjoyable preamp 5 1 1 1 ● ● ● ● ● 11x44x31

Linn Akurate Kontrol 4200 09.11/FT ★★★★★ Part of the Linn Akurate system - and truly awesome 4 1 1 1 ● ● ● ● 9x38x38

NADC165BEE 650 08.10/FT ★★★★★ A brute of a preamp 4 1 1 0 ● ● ● 8x44x29

Naim NAC152 XS 975 02.10/GT ★★★★★ It’s good, but could do better with dynamics 5 0 0 0 ● ● 7x43x30

Quad Elite Pre 850 11.10/FT ★★★★★ Doesn’t blow us away, but it’s still worth consideration 6 1 1 1 ● ● ● 7x32x31

Quad QC-twenty four 1000 06.13/FT ★★★★★ Pleasant listen but works best with Quad’s valve power amps 5 0 0 2 ● 9x30x22

Rotel RC-1580 995 03.10/FT ★★★★★ A likeable, fully featured performer that delivers much for the money 5 1 1 2 ● ● ● ● 10x43x34

Townshend Allegri 1895 08.12/GT ★★★★★ Basicfeatures, but terrificsound 6 0 0 0 ● 5x13x31

£5000 and above

Audio Research LS27 6500 03.13/FT ★★★★★ A fine preamp but struggles to shine in comparison to the Reference 75 6 0 0 1 ● ● ● 13x48x34

AesthetixCalypso Signature 6400 03.11/FT ★★★★★ One of the finest preamps on the market today 5 0 0 1 ● ● ● 11x46x45

Bryston BP26DA 5050 08.06/FT ★★★★★ A must-hear preamp. Lacks style but built to last 5 0 0 1 ● ● ● ● 6x49x28

Burmester 808 MK5 22242 02.13/FT ★★★★★ A beautifully constructed, highly versatile preamp for serious devotees Opt Opt Opt Opt ● ● ● 95x48x33

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 123

 124 HI-FI

Headphone out

Remote control
PREAMPScontinued
Power amps | Preamps

Tone controls
MM phono in

Balanced out
MCphono in

Dimensions
Line level in

Preamp out
Tape loops

(hwd, cm)
Product £ Tested Verdict
£5000 and above
Chord Electronics CPA 8000 25500 01.13/FT ★★★★★ A magnificent preamp, but not quite the masterpiece its price demands 8 0 0 2 ● ● ● ● ● 31x42x36

Chord Electronics Indigo 8670 11.09/FT ★★★★★ A far sighted design mixing useful features with great sound 6 0 0 0 ● ● ● ● 36x42x9

Krell Phantom II 12000 11.12/FT ★★★★★ A hugely capable preamp that is able to dig deeply into any recording 8 0 0 1 ● ● ● 10x44x46

McIntosh C2500 7495 01.14/FT ★★★★★ A refined and entertaining preamp that needs a little care in partnering 8 1 1 1 ● ● ● ● ● 19x44x46

Naim NAC252/Supercap 9070 11.08/FT ★★★★★ Makes a magical combination with the NAP250 power amp 6 0 0 0 ● ● 9x43x31

PliniusTautoro 6325 09.08/FT ★★★★★ A mighty amplifier in every sense of the word 4 1 1 1 ● ● ● ● 16x45x48

Poweramps
These are effectively the powerhouse of the system. They deliver the high currents necessary
to make a loudspeaker work. They can be configured as a stereo unit, or monoblocs, where the
circuitry for each channel is housed separately. Don’t judge a power amp by its output level.

Ourrecommendations

Dimensions

Weight (kg)
(hwd, cm)
Power (w)
Phono in
XLR in
Type
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £5000
Audiolab 8200MB 1900 01.12/FT ★★★★★ Hefty, but a bit of a blunt instrument Mono 250 1 1 15x22x38 9

Audionet Amp 1 V2 4850 01.10/FT ★★★★★ As revealing as amplifiers get for this kind of money Stereo 200 1 1 18x43x32 28

ATCP1 1566 12.09/FT ★★★★★ A matchless power amp when paired with the CA-2 preamp Stereo 150 1 1 14x44x35 26

Bryston 2B SST 2925 08.06/FT ★★★★★ Big, strong and very powerful Stereo 100 1 0 49x13x41 14

Chord Electronics Maxx 990 05.11/FT ★★★★★ This could be a sign of hi-fi to come Stereo 20 1 0 7x16x4 0.4

Chord Electronics SPM 1050 3990 10.07/FT ★★★★★ Very fast and punchy, exciting and stable sound Stereo 200 2 2 13x42x36 15

Croft Polestar 1 800 06.07/FT ★★★★★ Great buy if you want sound quality not quantity Stereo 25 1 0 11x22x33 6

Cyrus 8 Power 850 02.10/GT ★★★★★ Performs with panache, we’d spend our cash here Stereo 60 3 0 7x22x36 5

Cyrus Mono X300 2500 04.11/FT ★★★★★ Exceptionally fluid and agile. Recommended Stereo 235 1 1 7x22x36 7

Cyrus Mono X300 Signature 2750 10.13/FT ★★★★★ A deceptively compact monoblocthat surpasses the Mono X300 Mono 225 1 1 8x22x37 6.5

Heed Audio Obelisk ps 1350 04.13/FT ★★★★★ Engaging and a pleasure to listen to, even if it’s not the classiest in terms of finish Stereo 50 1 0 9x22x33 6

Leema Hydra II 3595 11.11/FT ★★★★★ A top class power amplifier for the money Stereo 160 1 1 11x44x31 33

NADC275BEE 820 08.10/FT ★★★★★ A great power amp, best matched with the C165BEE preamp Stereo 150 1 0 13x44x35 15

Naim NAP 155 XS 1115 02.10/GT ★★★★★ It’s a good performer, but not the last word in dynamics Stereo 60 0 0 7x43x30 7.5

Naim NAP 250 3050 11.08/FT ★★★★★ Paired with the NAC252 preamp it’s magical Stereo 80 0 0 9x43x32 16

Plinius P10 3390 09.07/FT ★★★★★ Makes a terrificamp when partnered with the Plinius M8 preamp Stereo 200 2 1 12x45x40 14

Quad Elite Stereo 700 11.10/FT ★★★★★ The Elite power amp paired with the Elite Pre is well worth consideration Stereo 80 1 0 7x32x31 6.25

Quad QSP 1200 07.12/FT ★★★★★ Needs to be auditioned - a confident listen Stereo 140 2 0 15x33x27 14

Rotel RB-1582 1095 03.10/FT ★★★★★ Great when paired with the RC-1580 preamp Stereo 200 1 0 14x43x41 33

£5000 and above

Aesthetix Atlas 7600 08.08/FT ★★★★★ Sophisticated brute - pair with the AesthetixCalypso Stereo 200 2 2 19x45x46 33

Audio Research Reference 75 8495 03.13/FT ★★★★★ A fabulous power amp, match it with care and you’ll have sonicmagic Stereo 75 0 1 22x48x50 21

Audio Research VS115 5395 02.09/FT ★★★★★ Ignore the looks and enjoy the sound Stereo 120 1 1 20x45x21 29

Burmester 911 Mk3 32800 08.12/GT ★★★★★ Awesome price, awesome bit of kit Stereo 535 0 1 22x48x48 31

Chord SPM 14000 MkII 24480 01.13/FT ★★★★★ An awe-inspiring monobloc, yet not quite as sonically rounded as we’d like Mono 700 1 1 31x48x69 75

Krell Evolution 402e 18500 11.12/FT ★★★★★ The Evolution 402e is world-class. It isn’t cheap, but quality such as this never is Stereo 400 1 1 25x44x56 61

Lavardin AP150 7686 12.10/FT ★★★★★ For sound quality and musical enjoyment, the C62 with the AP150 is hard to beat Stereo 50 1 0 14x43x31 12

Marantz MA-9S2 5000 02.08/FT ★★★★★ Right up there with the very best power amplifiers Mono 300 2 1 45x46x20 37

Plinius SA-REF 12650 09.08/FT ★★★★★ As enticing an amplifier as you can get Stereo 300 1 1 28x51x54 57

Quad II eighty 6000 06.13/FT ★★★★★ A capable monoblocamp that should be considered Mono 80 1 0 21x43x18 57

“The biggest compliment we can pay to the whole amazing pre/power set-up of the
Burmester 911 Mk3 is that it’s every bit as good as you’d hope. This is one case where
you really do get what you pay for”
August 2012

Subscriptions 0844 848 8813 email: whathifi@servicehelpline.co.uk

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iPod docks 128 HI-FI

iPoddocks
Docks with power These are ready-made systems for your iPod; usually include speakers
Docks without power These integrate an iPod into an existing system as a line level source

Theshortlist

Bowers&WilkinsZeppelinAir
“The Zeppelin Air sounds great, it has better
features and sound quality is a step ahead
of the original.”
AWARDWINNER
Epoz Aktimate Micro JBL OnBeat Venue LT
“If you want a pair of speakers to sit either “The JBL Venue LT dock delivers an exciting
side of your laptop, these are a brilliant all-round performance and currently sets the
performance-per-pound option.” bar at its position in the market.”

Alsoconsider

Dimensions
Bluetooth

(hwd, cm)
Dock type

Power (w)
AirPlay

Aux
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
AudysseySouth of Market 350 04.11/FT ★★★★★ A worthy addition to the high end dock market ● iOS ● n/a 23x13x28

Arcam rCube 350 04.12/ST ★★★★★ Best iPod dock £150-£400, Awards 2011 iOS ● 90 20x20x20

Bose SoundDock II 250 09.10/GT ★★★★★ A talented dock that can fill an average-sized room iOS ● n/a 17x30x17

B&W Z2 330 10.13/ST ★★★★★ Still impressive but lacks other, non-Apple streaming options compared with rivals iOS ● 40 18x32x10

Epoz Aktimate Micro 260 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Best desktop speaker, Awards 2012 iOS ● 40 24x15x20

Epoz AktiMate Mini 350 07.12/GT ★★★★★ Not the smallest desktop speakers, but they’ll make your iPod sing iOS ● 40 30x19x21

Epoz AktiMate Mini+ 360 08.13/FT ★★★★★ A versatile product that offers quality sound ● iOS ● 40 30x19x21

Gear4 AirZone Series 1 200 04.12/ST ★★★★★ AirPlay and iPad support, with good sound too ● iOS ● n/a 18x33x19

JBL OnBeat Venue LT 200 03.13/FT ★★★★★ The Venue LT is a versatile, talented and enthusasticdock ● iOS ● 30 13x42x14

Klipsch iGroove HG WWI 110 04.12/ST ★★★★★ A great dock with only a slight lack of refinement iOS ● 30 14x40x16

KitSound Boom Dock 100 12.10/FT ★★★★★ Big, bold and brutally exciting iOS 60 15x42x28

Logitech S715i 80 04.12/ST ★★★★★ Best speaker dock up to £200, Awards 2012 iOS ● 20 6x39x13

Logitech UE AirSpeaker 300 06.12/FT ★★★★★ Best speaker dock £200-£350, Awards 2012 ● iOS ● n/a 17x53x15

MarantzConsolette 700 05.13/FT ★★★★★ Not an all-rounder but a unqiue device with a lovely sound ● iOS 150 26x54x21

OrbitsoundT12v3 299 12.11/FT ★★★★★ An effective panacea for yourTV’s sound iOS ● 180 10x61x11

Philips Fidelio Primo DS9 300 09.11/FT ★★★★★ A well-built and easy to use dock iOS ● 50 18x51x21

Philips Fidelio Primo DS9010 400 08.11/GT ★★★★★ A solid proposition thanks to its price iOS ● 100 21x56x23

Pure Digital Contour 200 04.11/FT ★★★★★ A fine idea with solid sound and features iOS ● 40 23x37x18

Pure Digital Contour 100Di 100 04.12/ST ★★★★★ Versatile, great looking and great sounding iOS ● 20 18x31x15

Pure Digital Contour 200i Air 200 09.12/FT ★★★★★ Pure’s first radio-less speaker dockfares well, but it can be bettered ● iOS ● 36 23x37x18

Revo K2 300 02.12/FT ★★★★★ Lots to like - but it’s not perfect iOS ● 40 33x11x11

RuarkAudio R2i 280 09.09/FT ★★★★★ Fine DAB radio and iPod system iOS ● 20 12x34x18.5

TEACSR-80iDAB 150 10.11/FT ★★★★★ Great looks but just falls short on sound iOS 20 18x39x21

£500 and above

B&O BeoSound 8 895 03.11/FT ★★★★★ Relishes big volumes, the performance justifies the cost iOS n/a 24x66x16

Bose SoundDock 10 699 08.11/GT ★★★★★ A price cut sees this nifty Bose move up a star ● iOS ● n/a 22x43x24

B&W Zeppelin Air 500 12.11/ST ★★★★★ A massive step up from the original ● iOS ● 150 17x54x21

Geneva Lab Model L 1000 08.09/FT ★★★★★ More musical than your usual dock’n’speakers combo iOS ● 100 29x45x37

Geneva Lab Model M 550 04.12/ST ★★★★★ Still capable but rivals have caught it up iOS ● 50 20x37x25

Geneva Lab Model XL 1500 10.09/FT ★★★★★ If you’ve lots of money and space, this is a must try iOS ● 600 79x55x37

JBL OnBeat Xtreme 500 04.12/ST ★★★★★ Product of the Year - Speaker Docks, Awards 2012 ● iOS ● 120 23x44x24

Loewe AirSpeaker 500 01.13/FT ★★★★★ Stylish, subtle and great-sounding. At £500 it’s a serious must-try ● iOS ● 4x20 13x24x24

Philips Fidelio SS DS9800 700 05.12/FT ★★★★★ Unified and nicely balanced iOS ● 100 22x27x9

Pro-Ject DBS1 500 06.11/FT ★★★★★ There’s much to like sonically here iOS n/a 4x10x11

Samsung DA-E750 600 10.12/FT ★★★★★ A unique-looking, fine-sounding, feature-packed speaker dock ● ● iOS/Android ● 100 15x45x24

To subscribe call 0844 848 8813 or email: whathifi@servicehelpline.co.uk

128 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com
 HI-FI 129

Wireless speakers
Wirelessspeakers
Bluetooth Universal wireless system that’s incorporated into most sources
AirPlay Apple’s proprietary wireless system; works over your home network

The shortlist
Theshortlist

Cambridge Audio Minx Go
“The Minx Go is a terrific product for the
money. As a way of filling a small or medium-
sized room with your music at a quality that
belies its size and price, it’s a winner.”
AWARDWINNER AWARDWINNER
Denon Cocoon Stream DSD-501 Audio Pro Allroom Air One
“The DSD-501 is a superb wireless speaker “If you’re looking for the convenience of a
whose impressive feature count is matched wireless speaker in a premium package, then
by its equally polished sound quality. the Audio Pro has to be considered the very
A worthy Award winner.” best in this price range.”

Alsoconsider

Dimensions
Bluetooth

(hwd, cm)
Charging
Battery
AirPlay

Aux
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £800
Audio Pro Allroom Air One 500 08.13/FT ★★★★★ Best wireless speaker £400+, Awards 2013 ● ● ● 20x31x19

Bayan Audio SoundBook 150 01.14/GT ★★★★★ A nice-looking portable speaker with some clever design touches ● ● ● 9x16x4

Bose SoundLink Mini 170 01.14/GT ★★★★★ A no-frills approach reaps dividends in the SoundLink’s sonicperformance ● ● ● 5x18x6

B&W A5 400 08.13/GT ★★★★★ Not the loudest but delivers a potent, punchy sound ● ● 18x30x20

B&W A7 700 12.12/FT ★★★★★ If you use AirPlay, the A7 demands your attention ● ● 22x36x16

Bose SoundLinkAir 300 12.12/GT ★★★★★ Not the last word in power or dynamics, but a tidy little package ● ● 17x31x10

Braven 625s 150 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Practical, outdoors-friendly Bluetooth speaker ● ● ● ● 6.5x5x16

Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100 330 10.13/ST ★★★★★ A worthy option but it can’t match the best when it comes to sound ● ● ● 18x35x12

Cambridge Audio Minx Air 200 430 08.13/GT ★★★★★ Majors in excitement , detail and power – a real entertainer ● ● ● 45x22x17

Cambridge Audio Minx Go 100 08.13/FT ★★★★★ Best wireless speaker up to £150, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR ● ● ● ● 23x24x6

Dali Kubik Free 625 03.14/FT ★★★★★ Dali strikes gold with these enthusiastic-sounding, well-featured speakers ● ● ● 31x15x15

Denon Cocoon Stream DSD-501 250 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best wireless speaker £150-£300, Awards 2013 ● ● ● 24x45x17

Geneva Model S Wireless DAB+ 330 10.13/ST ★★★★★ Best wireless speaker £300-£400, Awards 2013 ● ● ● ● 15x14x18

Harman/Kardon Go+Play 280 05.13/FT ★★★★★ These wireless active speakers deliver good sound ● ● ● ● 24x50x23

Jawbone Big Jambox 260 09.12/FT ★★★★★ Great for bass and sound, lacks a little finesse though ● ● ● 9x26x8

iLuv MobiOut 70 05.13/GT ★★★★★ A small unit that boasts a likable sound ● ● ● 0x0x0

JBLCharge 120 01.14/GT ★★★★★ A punchy and energeticsound is let down by some coarse and harsh treble ● ● ● ● 18x7x7

JBL Flip 100 05.13/GT ★★★★★ A great value bluetooth speaker ● ● ● 0x0x0

JBL OnBeat Rumble 260 10.13/ST ★★★★★ A chunky, versatile unit that has a real sense of fun ● ● ● 17x45x22

Libratone Zipp 370 10.13/ST ★★★★★ Stylish, portable and fully-featured. Libratone hits the jackpot with the Zipp ● ● ● 26x12x12

Libratone Loop 400 12.13/FT ★★★★★ An enjoyable-sounding speaker with some unique looks ● ● ● 33x33x8

Loewe AirSpeaker 500 03.13/GT ★★★★★ Fussy set up issues aside, this is one incredibly capable speaker ● ● 24x13x24

Logitech UE Boombox 200 12.12/GT ★★★★★ It’s not faultless, but for the money it’s difficult to argue with this ● ● ● 16x39x8

Logitech UE Mobile Boombox 75 05.13/GT ★★★★★ Limited functionality but a good choice for portable users ● ● ● ● 6x7x11

Monitor Audio Airstream WS100 250 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Cracking speakers. A desktop force to be reckoned with ● 13x12x12

PanasonicSC-NA10 130 01.14/GT ★★★★★ A speaker that oozes class and subtlety. Watch out for the cabinet vibrations, though ● ● ● ● 10x20x3

Philips Fidelio P9 240 03.13/FT ★★★★★ Hard to find fault with this Bluetooth speaker ● ● ● ● 12x29x5

Pioneer XW-SMA4 350 12.12/GT ★★★★★ Bags of features, solid build and smart design – just watch that bass ● ● ● ● 21x36x17

Pure Jongo S3 170 06.13/FT ★★★★★ Great sound and easy portability make this a real gem ● ● ● 13x13x14

Roth OLi POWA-5 250 04.13/FT ★★★★★ Some great features, but it’s not the class-leader in outright sound quality ● ● ● 27x18x21

Sonos Play:1 170 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Another strong addition to the Award-winning Sonos multi-room family ● ● ● 16 x12 x12

Sony RDP-XA700 285 03.13/GT ★★★★★ With a bit more definition and a bit less bass this could have been the speaker for us ● ● ● 18 x40 x 16

Ultimate Ears Boom 170 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Loads of fun to listen to, the Boom is exciting, attractive and packed with features to boot ● ● ● 16 x6.5 x 6.5

SonySRS-BTM8 85 05.13/GT ★★★★★ Classy, cleverly designed speaker that can handle large volumes. ● ● ● 19 x25 x 9

“Not only is the Jongo S3’s sound really quite something for such a small
and affordable speaker, it makes multiroom audio seriously accessible as well”
June 2013
Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 129
Headphones 130 HI-FI

Headphones
Ear tips Most in-ears come with these. Experiment with sizes to get the best fit
In-line remote Mostly for Apple devices, but Android-friendly units are growing. Handy…

Theshortlist

AWARDWINNER AWARDWINNER
SoundMAGIC E10 AKG K451 Sennheiser Momentum

Noise cancelling
Alsoconsider

Weight (g)
Wireless
On-ear
In-ear

Type
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £70
AKG K451 50 10.12/GT ★★★★★ Best portable on-ears up to £100, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR ● Closed 120

AudioTechnica ATH-CK550 49 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Smooth and weighty with lashings of detail ● Closed 8

AudioTechnica ATH-CKS55i 45 08.12/GT ★★★★★ Big on bass, these cans are no shrinking violets ● Closed 6

AudioTechnica ATH-T400 50 11.10/FT ★★★★★ Nicely balanced pair that just lack the wow factor of the class leaders ● Closed 260

Apple EarPods 25 01.13/FT ★★★★★ A big upgrade of Apple’s original earbuds, but there are better rivals ● Open 10

BeyerdynamicDTX101iE 65 01.12/GT ★★★★★ Best in-ears £40-£80, Awards 2013 ● Closed 11

BeyerdynamicDTX71iE 54 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Detailed and with supreme tone control ● Closed 11

dBLogicEP-100 25 08.12/GT ★★★★★ A dramatic, enjoyable musical performance ● Closed 117

Digital Silence DS-321D 60 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Admirable noise-cancelling buds ● Closed ● 11

EtymoticResearch MC5 57 01.12/GT ★★★★★ A likeable sound for the money ● Closed ● 17

Grado iGrado 49 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Fabulous iPod upgrade: these are unbeatable at the price ● Open 85

Jays a-Jays Four 50 12.11/FT ★★★★★ The Jays combine looks and performance to alluring effect ● Closed 14

Jays t-JaysTwo 67 09.11/ST ★★★★★ A sure-fire winner for those who like their bass ● Closed 8

Ministry of Sound MOS003 30 12.11/GT ★★★★★ Tidy, well balanced and nicely made ● Closed 15

Mix-Style inner headphones 30 08.12/GT ★★★★★ Punchy, controlled and balanced ● Closed 13.5

PanasonicRP-HTX7 35 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Best portable on-ears up to £50, Awards 2012 ● Closed 153

Philips CitiScape Downtown 55 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Fun, stylish and great to use on an everyday basis ● Closed ● 174

RHA MA-350 30 12.11/GT ★★★★★ Nicely made from quality materials, with impressive sound to match ● Closed ● 48

SennheiserCX 300-II 30 09.10/GT ★★★★★ Best in-ear headphones up to £50, Awards 2010 ● Closed 4

SennheiserCX281 35 12.11/GT ★★★★★ Enjoyable enough, but a touch quiet ● Closed 16

SennheiserCX495 35 08.12/GT ★★★★★ A brilliant upgrade bargain ● Closed 4

Sennheiser HD 202 26 02.11/FT ★★★★★ Great sound for the money and a bargain buy ● Closed 130

Sennheiser HD 218 40 11.09/FT ★★★★★ For closed-back cans, the Sennheisers are very good – but not the best ● Closed 224

Sennheiser MM 70i 50 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Nice features for the money ● Closed ● 12

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 HI-FI 131

Noise cancelling
HEADPHONEScontinued

Headphones
Weight (g)
Wireless
On-ear
In-ear

Type
Product £ Tested Verdict
Sennheiser PX100-II 40 11.10/FT ★★★★★ An improvement over the previous model, very good open-backed cans ● Open 80

Skullcandy Full Metal Jacket 65 07.10/FT ★★★★★ An extremely likeable pair of in-ear ‘phones ● Closed 13

Slick Distributions SD50 30 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Features and price make it easy to forgive minor sonicflaws ● Closed ● 71

SoundMagicE10 35 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Best in-ears up to £40, Awards 2013 ● Closed 11

SoundMagicPL30 30 01.10/GT ★★★★★ Great headphones that are held back by better value rivals ● ● Closed 10

SoundMagicPL50 50 02.10/FT ★★★★★ Comfy and smooth-sounding; great all-rounders ● Closed 8

Sony MDR-570LP 30 08.10/GT ★★★★★ Comfortable, all-round, on-ear headphones ● Closed 110

Sony MDR-AS40EX 24 03.09/GT ★★★★★ Sporty headphones that sound weighty and clear ● Closed 6

Sony MDR-EX500LP 45 09.10/GT ★★★★★ Display good solidity and weight – well worth an audition ● Closed 7

Vivanco Airc. Studio Monitors 50 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Capable - but should be approached with caution ● Closed n/a

£70 and above

AKG K3003i 1000 04.12/FT ★★★★★ The best, and priciest, in-ears we’ve seen ● Closed 10

AKG K370 73 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Impressive for the money ● Closed 4

AKG K450/HA450 180 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Product of the Year Headphones, Awards 2011 ● Closed 120

AKG K545 210 12.13/FT ★★★★★ Built to last but lacks refinement and likeability ● Closed 280

AKG K550 200 02.12/ST ★★★★★ Best home on-ear headphones £150+, Awards 2013 ● Closed 305

AKG K551 230 02.13/GT ★★★★★ Smashing all-rounders that really sing ● Closed 305

AKG K845BT 250 02.14/GT ★★★★★ If you like your musicclear and uncoloured, then these AKGs are definitely worth a listen ● Closed ● 292

AKG Q701 340 09.11/ST ★★★★★ A great, solid sounding set of cans ● Open 236

AKG Q460 140 02.11/GT ★★★★★ More pros than cons, but still not complete ● Closed 120

Audeze LCD-3 1725 02.14/GT ★★★★★ Very expensive, but there’s little to compain about here. Even with that price ● Open 548

AudioTechnica ATH-A500 140 02.10/GT ★★★★★ If you’re after closed-back cans, give these a try ● Closed 290

AudioTechnica ATH-ANC1 80 06.10/FT ★★★★★ Their portability and noise-cancelling makes them a viable buy ● Closed ● 100

AudioTechnica ATH-CKX9iS 75 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Easy on the ears and very comfortable, but they need a bit more refinement to be great ● Closed 10

AudioTechnica ATH-ES55 90 09.11/GT ★★★★★ Best portable on-ear headphone up to £100, Awards 2010 ● Closed 120

AudioTechnica ATH-ES7 140 02.11/GT ★★★★★ Appearance apart, there’s an awful lot to like here ● Closed 160

AudioTechnica ATH-ES88 230 02.12/FT ★★★★★ Appealingly eccentriccans ● Closed 130

AudioTechnica ATH-EW9 159 10.07/FT ★★★★★ Featherlight phones are awesomely detailed ● Closed 33

AudioTechnica ATH-M50 130 02.13/GT ★★★★★ Immersive and refined: a great effort ● Closed 284

AudioTechnica ATH-W1000 650 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Expensive, but offer magnificent hi-fi sound ● Closed 350

AudioTechnica ATH-W1000X 650 07.10/FT ★★★★★ Best home on-ear headphones £500-£800, Awards 2010 ● Closed 350

AudioTechnica ATH-WS55i 89 Aw.11/FT ★★★★★ An excellent pair of on-ears for the bass-loving iPhone-owner ● Closed 165

BeyerdynamicCustom One Pro 170 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Accomplished and easy to listen to. We like them ● Closed 290

BeyerdynamicDT880 200 06.09/GT ★★★★★ Comfortable and the sound is impressive ● Open ● ● 340

BeyerdynamicDTX80 80 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Best in-ear headphones £50-£100, Awards 2010 ● Closed 12

BeyerdynamicMMX 101iE 95 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Best in-ears £80-£150, Awards 2013 ● Closed ● 11

BeyerdynamicT1 880 11.10/FT ★★★★★ Best home on-ear headphones £800+, Awards 2010 ● Closed 350

BeyerdynamicT50P 230 02.12/ST ★★★★★ Best portable on-ears £200+, Awards 2012 ● Closed 174

BeyerdynamicT51P 250 11.13/GT ★★★★★ A fine replacement for theT50ps, superbly entertaining ● Closed 174

BeyerdynamicT70 456 11.11/FT ★★★★★ Undeniably capable, but don’t quite feel worth the money ● Closed 330

Blackbox M10 90 12.10/FT ★★★★★ Good noise-cancellers, but sonically slack ● Open ● 180

Blackbox M10-RB 99 04.12/GT ★★★★★ Impressive, capable and clear-sounding ● Closed ● 180

Blackbox i10 80 12.10/GT ★★★★★ A great set of noise-cancellers, with a good sound to boot ● Closed ● 25

Bose AE2w 200 02.14/GT ★★★★★ No aptX Bluetooth onboard, but still a very listenable pair of cans ● Closed ● 150

Bose MIE2i 120 09.11/ST ★★★★★ A perfect headphone meets microphone solution ● Closed 19

Bose QuietComfort 15 280 04.12/GT ★★★★★ Best noise-cancelling headphones, Awards 2013 ● Closed ● 227

B&W P3 170 08.12/FT ★★★★★ Stylish and sonically talented on-ear headphones ● Closed 130

B&W P5 250 11.13/GT ★★★★★ They look fantasticand sound just as good ● Closed 195

B&W P7 330 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best portable on-ears, Awards 2013 ● Closed 290

Denon AH-D600 200 11.13/GT ★★★★★ Open and spacious. A crisper presentation would make this a five-star product ● Closed 365

EtymoticResearch HF2 180 08.09/FT ★★★★★ The same money buys punchier cans, but not ones that fit as well ● Closed ● 26

“While the price may be a stumbling block for many, it’s worth considering that it
would take tens of thousands of pounds to buy a pair of speakers that can even
approach the Audeze LCD 3s’ level of sound quality”
March 2014

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 131

 132 HI-FI

Noise cancelling
HEADPHONEScontinued
Headphones

Weight (g)
Wireless
On-ear
In-ear

Type
Product £ Tested Verdict
£70 and above
EtymoticResearch HF3 134 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Serious hi-fi quality in a stylish little package ● Closed ● 11

Focal Spirit One 200 04.12/FT ★★★★★ Refined enough, but not the most exciting ● Closed 225

German Maestro GMP 8.35 D 150 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Virtually indestructible sonicgoodness ● Closed 220

Goldring NS-1000 100 03.10/GT ★★★★★ Sweet, powerful sounding noise-cancellers ● Closed ● 183

Grado GR10 399 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Stunningly insightful and expressive ● Closed 9

Grado GR8 300 04.10/GT ★★★★★ Precisely detailed and balanced, but they lack a certain richness ● Open ● 9

Grado GS1000i 1000 10.09/GT ★★★★★ For sheer, sonicpleasure these cans are stunning ● Open 312

Grado PS1000 1700 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Undoubtedly one of the finest headphones money can buy ● Open 500

Grado SR325is 300 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Best home on-ear headphones £150+ Awards 2011 ● Open 330

Grado SR60i 80 02.10/GT ★★★★★ Hugely accomplished and built to last too ● Closed 125

Grado SR80i 100 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Best home on-ear headphones up to £150, Awards 2013 ● Open 200

Grado iGi 90 01.12/GT ★★★★★ Classy and compact buds ● Closed 12

Harman/Kardon CL 170 09.12/FT ★★★★★ An impressive headphone debut for Harman/Kardon ● Closed 195

Jamo IN40i 90 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Chunky and enjoyable buds ● Closed 11

Jamo wEAR IN20m 70 06.11/FT ★★★★★ These quiet Jamos aren’t without charm ● Closed 13

KEF M200 150 10.13/FT ★★★★★ They don’t quite set the market alight, but they are worth an audition ● Closed 12

KEF M500 250 11.13/GT ★★★★★ A smooth and refined effort from KEF. Needs a touch more excitement ● Closed 208

Klipsch Image One 140 05.11/GT ★★★★★ Perfect for those who enjoy a lot of bass ● Closed 138

Klipsch Image X7i 170 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Klipsch has gone for energy and warmth with the X7is, and it’s an addictive combo ● Closed 16

Klipsch Image X10i 219 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Best in-ears £140+, Awards 2011 ● Closed 320

Klipsch Mode M40 290 02.13/FT ★★★★★ Klipsch’s first noise-cancelling headphones are excellent performers ● Closed ● 356

Klipsch S4i 90 12.09/GT ★★★★★ These Klipschs are great all-rounders, with an exciting edge ● Closed 12

Klipsch S5i 120 05.11/FT ★★★★★ In-ear buds that strain at the leash ● Closed 12

Logitech UE 9000 300 03.13/GT ★★★★★ Could be more refined, but make up for this with bundles of energy Closed ● ● 378

Lindy Premium Headphones 75 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Ideal for those unwilling to break the £100 barrier ● Closed 225

Martin Logan Mikros 70 150 04.13/GT ★★★★★ If you like your musicto be presented with a matter-of-fact approach, these are just the job ● Closed 13

Monster Beats by Dr Dre 280 03.10/GT ★★★★★ Noise-cancelling cans that are seriously good ● Closed ● 260

Monster Beats by Dre iBeats 80 03.11/GT ★★★★★ For smooth, bassy sounds they’re ace ● Closed n/a

Monster Beats Pro by Dre 350 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Brilliant at what they do well ● Closed 299

Monster Gratitude 199 08.12/FT ★★★★★ Celebrity hook-up cans sound good for the money ● Open 453

NAD Viso HP50 250 11.13/GT ★★★★★ A promising pair of cans from NAD, but the design lets them down ● Open 453

Nocs NS400Titanium 80 01.12/GT ★★★★★ Still great, but there’s better for the money ● Closed 12

Onkyo ES-HF300 180 10.13/GT ★★★★★ A pleasant listen, laid-back and amiable ● Closed 240

PanasonicRP-HC101 82 04.12/GT ★★★★★ Nice enough sound but average noise cancelling ● Closed ● 79

Parrot Zik 300 07.13/FT ★★★★★ High-tech headphones that deliver a good performance ● Closed ● ● 352

PhonakAudeo PFE 022 80 03.11/GT ★★★★★ Pacey, detailed, insightful and recommended ● Closed ● 14

Phiaton MS300 150 02.12/ST ★★★★★ These over ears deserve careful consideration ● Closed 140

Philips Fidelio L1 230 05.12/FT ★★★★★ Easy going and comfortable ● Closed 272

Philips Fidelio M1 125 10.13/GT ★★★★★ Best portable on-ears £100-£200, Awards 2013 ● Closed 166

Philips Fidelio M1BT 250 02.14/GT ★★★★★ Best wireless headphones, Awards 2013 ● Closed ● 500

Philips Fidelio S1 70 01.14/GT ★★★★★ Smart and non-invasive earphones. We quite like them ● Closed 14

Philips Fidelio X1 270 01.13/FT ★★★★★ Another great set of headphones from Philips ● Open 430

PSB M4U1 219 11.13/GT ★★★★★ Better than the M4U2? Close but no cigar ● Closed 340

PSB M4U2 300 10.12/ST ★★★★★ PSB’s first headphones are truly brilliant. Hear them now! ● Closed ● 362

SennheiserCX880i 90 01.12/GT ★★★★★ Great sounding in-ears, although there’s a hard edge ● Closed 11

Sennheiser HD 380 Pro 110 02.10/GT ★★★★★ Still seriously good headphones, but rivals have caught up ● Closed 220

Sennheiser HD25-1 II Adidas 190 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Stylishly excellent all-rounders ● Closed 140

Sennheiser HD 598 190 02.12/ST ★★★★★ Too well-mannered for our tastes ● Open 270

Sennheiser HD 800 1000 10.09/GT ★★★★★ They offer much, but close rivals pip them to the post ● Open 350

Sennheiser IE 8i 260 03.11/GT ★★★★★ Enjoyable enough, but need a better tonal balance ● Closed 18

Sennheiser IE 80 270 02.11/FT ★★★★★ Expensive, but a truly quality option ● Closed 5

Sennheiser IE 800 600 09.13/FT ★★★★★ Best in-ears £300+, Awards 2013 ● Closed 8

Sennheiser MM 200 99 10.09/GT ★★★★★ In terms of detail, clarity and musicality you could do a lot worse ● Closed ● 28

Sennheiser MM 400-X 150 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Best wireless headphones, Awards 2012 ● Closed ● 105

Sennheiser MM 70s 70 01.14/GT ★★★★★ An unassuming pair of earphones that are never less than engaging ● Closed 13

Sennheiser Momentum 260 11.13/GT ★★★★★ Best portable on-ears £200-300, Awards 2013 ● Closed 190

Sennheiser Momentum On-ears 170 10.13/GT ★★★★★ A comfortable pair of cans, just lacking a little presence in the mid-range ● Closed 160

Sennheiser PXC310 BT 190 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Best Bluetooth headphones, Awards 2011 ● Closed ● ● 105

Sennheiser PXC310 200 02.11/GT ★★★★★ Perfect for a walk on the mild side ● Closed ● 115

Sennheiser RS 160 115 05.10/GT ★★★★★ An exciting, affordable option but tiring over longer periods ● Closed ● 226

132 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 HI-FI 135

Noise cancelling

Headphones
HEADPHONEScontinued

Weight (g)
Wireless
On-ear
In-ear

Type
Product £ Tested Verdict
Sennheiser RS 180 185 05.10/GT ★★★★★ These comfortable, wireless headphones justify their premium price ● Open ● 204

Sennheiser RS 220 350 10.12/ST ★★★★★ A very neat wireless solution with great sound quality ● Open ● 329

Sennheiser X 320 70 10.12/ST ★★★★★ The best Xbox gaming headphones we’ve heard so far ● Closed 280

Shure SE215 100 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Affordably opulent buds ● Closed ● 30

Shure SE310 120 05.09/GT ★★★★★ Detail and clarity is first class ● Closed 7

Shure SE425 200 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Best in-ears £150-£300, Awards 2013 ● Closed 32

Shure SE535 450 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Still good but no longer the best ● Closed ● 272

Shure SRH1840 500 06.12/FT ★★★★★ Not cheap, but worth every penny ● Open 268

Sony MDR-1R 210 02.13/GT ★★★★★ Detailed and airy, but need more kick ● Closed 240

Sony MDR-Z1000P5 385 09.11/ST ★★★★★ Impressive sounding cans - with good flexibility ● Closed 270

Sony XBA-2iP 130 11.12/FT ★★★★★ Best in-ears £120-£200, Awards 2012 ● Closed 6

Sony XBA-3iP 225 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Best in-ears £200+, Awards 2012 ● Closed ● 7

Sony XBA-4iP 275 10.12/ST ★★★★★ The bestSony headphones we’ve heard in years ● Closed ● 8

SoundMagicHP100 150 02.12/FT ★★★★★ Sparkling detail, spacious character ● Closed 228

TDKST700 150 01.12/FT ★★★★★ Tonally balanced and solidly musical ● Closed 205

thinksound ts02+mic 90 02.13/FT ★★★★★ Eco-friendly buds provide a clear sound and a clearer conscience ● Closed 10

Ultrasone HFI-580 125 11.10/GT ★★★★★ Not class-leading, but still worthy of consideration ● Closed 285

Ultrasone HFI-780 160 02.12/ST ★★★★★ Big and bold, and offer excitement in spades ● Open 285

Ultimate Ears Super Fi 5vi 110 12.09/GT ★★★★★ These in-ears are, in a word, brilliant ● Closed 14

V-moda Crossfade M-80 160 10.12/ST ★★★★★ Good-looking and great fun, with lots of bass ● Closed 200

V-moda Remix Remote 70 12.10/GT ★★★★★ Smooth and enjoyable sounding buds ● Closed 17

How does noise cancelling work?

This kind of design is usually battery-powered and reduces the amount of

everyday background noise you’d hear. Noise cancelling headphones
contain microphones that pick up external noise, and then invert its
waveform electronically before outputting it to your ears. This inverse
wave works against the original, and greatly reduces audible noise.

It works best on continuous low-frequency sounds such as plane engines

and Brian Blessed’s humming. It’s also not unusual for such designs to
tweak tonal balance to improve things, although some headphones
add a degree of hiss in the process.

External Noise Speaker Noise

Internal
Electronics

Microphone

Try these

Bose QuietComfort 15 ★★★★★ £270 Logitech UE9000 ★★★★★ £300 PSB M4U 2 ★★★★★ £300
“ The noise-cancelling is so effective it can feel like “They could do better in terms of refinement – but if “if you want to turn your office, flight or train journey
silence is being pushed into your head. Mid-tune, it’s it’s energy and entertainment you’re after (as well into a private listening experience of exceptional
almost as if the outside world disappears completely.” as Bluetooth), they’re pretty much spot-on.” quality, these are the headphones to get.”

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Surround systems | Stereo systems 136 ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEMS

Stereosystems
This category includes a wide range of products including all-in-one packages where the speakers
are part of the system, through to micro systems where the electronics are housed separately
from the speakers. A streaming option is available on many newer systems.

Analogue inputs

Headphone out
Ourrecommendations

Internet Radio

Digital inputs
Streaming

DAB
Product £ Tested Verdict

FM
CD
Up to £500
Denon CEOL Piccolo 260 03.13/FT ★★★★★ No matter what the source, the CEOL Piccolo will play all your musicin superb style ● ● ● ● ●

Denon CEOL RCD-N8 350 02.14/FT ★★★★★ An attractive option if you’re looking for a compact system that does a bit of everything ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Denon D-M39DAB 310 12.13/GT ★★★★★ Best musicsystem up to £400, Awards 2013 ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Onkyo CR-N755 300 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Best networked micro system, Awards 2012 ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

PanasonicSC-HC55DB 240 11.11/FT ★★★★★ Great specs and a great sound too ● ● ● ● ●

PanasonicSC-PMX9DB 450 12.13/GT ★★★★★ Well-featured but its laid-backsound makes it a solid buy ● ● ● ● ● ●

Pioneer X-HM70 350 03.12/GT ★★★★★ Not flawless, but gets much right ● ● ● ● ● ●

Pioneer X-SMC5-K 300 02.12/FT ★★★★★ An excellent jack of all trades ● ● ● ● ●

SonyCMT-G1BiP 400 12.11/FT ★★★★★ Capable and fun to listen to ● ● ● ● ●

TEACCR-H258i 230 08.10/GT ★★★★★ Big in heart and low in price ● ● ● ● ●

Teufel Impaq 40 299 08.10/GT ★★★★★ No frills but near-faultless sound for the money ● ● ● ●

Yamaha MCR-140 275 09.10/FT ★★★★★ Large portfolio of functions and it sounds good ● ● ● ● ●

Yamaha MCR-232 300 12.13/GT ★★★★★ Harsh treble docks it a star but it’s an impressively compact micro system ● ● ● ● ●

Yamaha MCR-550 280 03.11/FT ★★★★★ Ditch the speakers, the CD/receiver is top-notch ● ● ● ● ●

Yamaha MCR-555 380 10.11/GT ★★★★★ Vastly improved over the original ● ● ● ● ●

£500 and above

Aura Note Premier 1500 05.10/FT ★★★★★ A fine sounding all in one system ● ● ● ● ● ●

Arcam Solo Neo 1350 09.10/FT ★★★★★ Extra functionality over the original Solo - great buy ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Camb. A. Sonata DR30/CD30 550 10.09/FT ★★★★★ Decent, but the performance doesn’t hit the heights ● ● ● ● ●

Cabasse Stream3 850 07.13/FT ★★★★★ Hardware is great but the app needs developing ● ● ● ● ●

Consonance F. City - Ping 1495 08.08/FT ★★★★★ Delightful CD receiver in one box ● ● ●

Lyngdorf Digital 2.2 System 12350 05.10/FT ★★★★★ Not without its flaws, but a system worth a look ● ● ● ●

Linn Majik DSM 2965 02.13/FT ★★★★★ A thoughtfully designed system and a pleasure to use ● ● ● ● ● ●

Marantz M-CR610 500 11.13/FT ★★★★★ Best musicsystem £400-£800, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Naim Uniti 2670 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Best Network MusicPlayer £1500+, Awards 2010 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Naim UnitiQute 1600 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Systems Product of the Year, Awards 2010 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Pioneer P1DAB 550 07.13/FT ★★★★★ Great sound for a sensible price ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

RuarkAudio R4i 599 07.11/FT ★★★★★ Best all-in-one musicsystem, Awards 2012 ● ● ● ● ●

SonyCMT-G2BNiP 500 04.12/FT ★★★★★ A solid performer in every respect ● ● ● ● ● ●

TEACCR-H700DAB 550 10.11/GT ★★★★★ Great - but not a total all-rounder ● ● ● ● ● ●

Surroundsystems
This category includes a wide variety of systems. Most include a disc drive and now tend to
feature video and music streaming capabilities. The speakers supplied tend to either be small
satellite designs, or towers that usually provide greater scale and sonic authority.

Ourrecommendations
Streaming
3D Blu-ray

Optical in

Channels
HDMI in
Blu-ray

DVD

Product £ Tested Verdict

Up to £500
LG HX906PA 425 07.11/GT ★★★★★ Talented enough to warrant an audition ● ● ● 1 2 5.1

PanasonicSC-BTT460 350 06.13/FT ★★★★★ No HDMI inputs but still a cracking system ● ● ● 1 0 5.1

Philips HTS5563 400 08.12/GT ★★★★★ A super budget solution ● ● ● 1 2 5.1

Pioneer BCS-SC626 400 01.12/GT ★★★★★ Great features, with tough competition ● ● 2 2 2.1

Q Acoustics Q-TV2 330 11.09/FT ★★★★★ A great way of boosting poor sound on yourTV 1 0 2.1

Samsung HT-E5530 450 08.12/GT ★★★★★ Plenty of bang for your bucks ● ● ● 1 2 5.1

Sony BDV-E380 400 07.11/GT ★★★★★ A fine system for the money ● ● ● 1 2 5.1

Sony BDV-N590 400 09.12/FT ★★★★★ Best cinema system, Awards 2012 ● ● ● 1 2 5.1

136 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 ALL-IN-ONE SYSTEMS 137

Surround systems | Soundbars

SURROUNDSYSTEMScontinued

Streaming
3D Blu-ray

Optical in

Channels
HDMI in
Blu-ray

DVD
Product £ Tested Verdict
£500-£1000
Harman-Kardon BDS-570 750 04.12/FT ★★★★★ Compact and ultimately convenient ● ● ● 2 3 5.1

LG BH8220B 600 08.12/GT ★★★★★ A bit pricey, but a good performer ● ● ● 1 2 5.1

LG BH9520TW 600 11.12/FT ★★★★★ Packed with features but a little pricey ● ● 1 2 9.1

PanasonicSC-BFT800 600 10.11/GT ★★★★★ A neat and well-priced all-in-one option ● ● ● 1 0 2.1

PanasonicSC-BT735 600 08.10/GT ★★★★★ Good Blu-ray system but lacks polish ● ● 2 0 5.1

PanasonicSC-BTT590 500 08.12/GT ★★★★★ An excellent all-in-one Blu-ray system ● ● ● 1 2 5.1

Sony BDV-N7100W 600 09.13/FT ★★★★★ Best cinema system, Awards 2013 ● ● ● ● 1 2 5.1

£1000 and above

Harman-Kardon BDS 477 1100 01.13/FT ★★★★★ A jack of all trades that’s pretty good ● ● ● 0 3 2.1

Harman-Kardon BDS-800 1300 05.11/FT ★★★★★ A simple, compact and effective system ● ● 1 0 5.1

Meridian G95 3995 12.07/GT ★★★★★ Top performer with sound and vision ● 2 0 5.1

Soundbars
One-box speaker systems that include amplification, and are a great alternative to a full-on home
cinema package if you don’t have much space. Few soundbars include a Blu-ray player as standard.

Theshortlist

Cambridge Audio Minx TV Canton DM 50 Maxell MXSP-SB3000

“The Cambridge Audio MinxTV is everything “With its premium quality build and lavishly “What we like most about the Maxell is how
we want from a soundbase. Punchy, dynamic, detailed sound, it fully justifies its easy it is to listen to. It doesn’t exaggerate the
clear and exciting.” £400 price tag.” bass, nor does it over-rev the top end.”

Alsoconsider
Ext. subwoofer

Dimensions
Co-axial in

(hwd, cm)
Discdrive

Optical in
HDMI in

RCA in
Smart

Product £ Tested Verdict

Up to £1500
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 2 1650 09.13/GT ★★★★★ An improvement on the original ● 3 1 0 13x110x18

Cambridge Audio MinxTV 200 02.14/FT ★★★★★ A soundbase that delivers an exciting sound at a great price 0 1 0 8x43x38

Canton DM 50 400 02.14/FT ★★★★★ With gorgeous sound and looks, the DM 50 justifies its price 0 1 1 6.5x54.5x30

Canton DM 90.2 1100 09.13/GT ★★★★★ Thunderous sound but needs a bit more refinement ● 0 2 2 15x90x30

Harman/Kardon SB30 800 07.12/FT ★★★★★ A good alternative to a full-on home cinema system ● 0 1 1 ● 10x116x8

JBLCinema SB200 200 03.14/ST ★★★★★ A very good single-bar solution to boost yourTV sound 0 1 0 12x90x10

JBLCinema SB400 450 06.13/ST ★★★★★ A good-looking, capable alternative toTV speakers ● 3 1 0 10x110x6

LG NB3520A 250 01.13/GT ★★★★★ Impressive quality and authority for a soundbar ● 0 2 0 8x100x5

LG NB3530A 190 03.14/ST ★★★★★ An admirable and attractive soundbar from LG, but it’s up against fierce competition ● 0 2 0 71x950x50

LG NB4530A 300 06.13/ST ★★★★★ Best soundbar up to £400, Awards 2013 ● 1 1 0 8x104x4

Maxell MXSP-SB3000 220 02.14/FT ★★★★★ An enjoyable performer with some impressive features 3 1 1 8x94x39

Monitor Audio ASB-2 1000 11.13/FT ★★★★★ Best soundbar £800+, Awards 2013 ● 3 1 1 ● 101x19x17

Orbitsound M9 300 06.13/ST ★★★★★ Given its size, the M9 is an impressive performer ● 0 1 0 9x30x10

Philips HTL5120 250 03.14/ST ★★★★★ A stonking soundbar for only £250 2 1 0 154x1010x81

Philips HTL9100 600 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best soundbar £400-£800, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR ● 2 1 1 7x103x16

Sandstrøm S42SWLH13 150 03.14/ST ★★★★★ A great-looking soundbar with plenty of connections ● 2 1 0 113x900x48

Samsung HW-E551 400 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Decent sound in a versatile package ● 2 1 0 104x5x5

Samsung HT-E8200 500 11.12/FT ★★★★★ If it’s convenience you crave, this is pretty alluring ● ● 2 1 0 10x104x13

Sonos Playbar 600 05.13/FT ★★★★★ An impressive soundbar that produces fantasticsurround sound ● 0 1 0 9x90x14

Yamaha YAS-201 350 06.13/ST ★★★★★ A very good soundbar but not worthy of being a class-leader ● 3 2 1 14x43x35

Yamaha YSP-2200 800 10.11/GT ★★★★★ Best soundbar, Awards 2012 ● 3 2 1 9x89x12

Yamaha YSP-5100 1300 10.10/FT ★★★★★ So impressive it may even persuade some owners of full 5.1 systems to trade-in 4 2 1 ● 21x120x9

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Media streamers | Media servers 138 NETWORK SYSTEMS

Mediaservers
These have hard drives built in. Go for the largest storage possible as
that leaves room for the future expansion of your music and video library.

Ourrecommendations

Coaxial out
Optical out

Resolution
Co-axial in
Hard drive

Optical in
HDMI out

(bit/khz)
Wireless
capacity

HDMI in

USB in

Video
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £2000
Lacie Lacinema ClassicHD 190 04.10/GT ★★★★★ As good as AppleTV, this needs to be auditioned 1TB 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 24/92 ●

Microsoft Xbox 360 (250GB) 200 01.11/FT ★★★★★ Now an appealing media hub as well 250GB 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 ● 16/48 ●

Netgear EVA9000 190 04.10/GT ★★★★★ Needs better sound and AppleTV-like usability 500GB 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 ● 24/92 ●

Olive 4HD 2150 02.10/FT ★★★★★ This is 21st-century hi-fi at its best 2TB 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 ● 24/192

Olive O3HD 900 12.10/FT ★★★★★ A great musicserver that’s nearly excellent 500GB 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 24/192

Raumfeld 3Raumfeld 1680 Aw.10/FT ★★★★★ A fabulous product to make Sonos sweat 160GB 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 ● 24/96

Mediastreamers
These access the music or video files you have stored on your network.
Check for file compatibility and decent control apps that improve usability.

Ourrecommendations

Co-axial out
Optical out

Resolution
Co-axial in
Optical in
HDMI out

(bit/khz)
Wireless
HDMI in

USB in

Video
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
AppleTV 100 06.12/GT ★★★★★ A limited but likeable streamer from Apple 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 ● 16/48 ●

Asus O!Play HD2 110 01.11/FT ★★★★★ A flexible streamer improved by a hard disk 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 20/48 ●

Cambridge Audio NP30 430 05.12/ST ★★★★★ Still worthy, but there’s better around 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 ● 24/96

Denon DNP-720AE 250 02.12/GT ★★★★★ A bargain for its features 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 ● 24/192

LGST600 130 07.11/GT ★★★★★ With more apps it could be a class king 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 ● 20/48 ●

Marantz NA7004 430 05.12/ST ★★★★★ Unique, flexible and packed with dynamics 0 1 1 0 1 1 2 24/96

Netgear NeoTV 550 150 07.11/GT ★★★★★ Decent enough if you know what you’re doing 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 ● 24/192 ●

NowTV 10 10.13/FT ★★★★★ Oodles of free and premium content makes this a great upgrade for a ‘dumb’TV 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 ● 16/48 ●

Popcorn PopBox 3D 140 10.11/FT ★★★★★ ASwiss Army Knife of streaming 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 16/48 ●

Pure JongoT2 130 11.13/FT ★★★★★ Cheaper than Sonos but comes with a few niggles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ● 16/48

QED uPlayStream 150 03.14/FT ★★★★★ A handy device that boasts decent sound and good features 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ● 24/196

Roku 2 XS 100 06.12/GT ★★★★★ A family friendly streamer 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 ● 16/48

Sonos Play 3 259 12.11/ST ★★★★★ A cracking little performer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ● 16/44.1

Sonos Play 5 349 12.11/ST ★★★★★ An ideal one-box network player 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ● 16/44.1

Sony NSZ-GS7 180 11.12/FT ★★★★★ Good first GoogleTV device but needs more apps 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 ● 24/48 ●

SonySMP-N100 120 07.11/GT ★★★★★ A fine mixture of paid-for and catch-up content 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 ● 24/96 ●

SonySMP-N200 100 06.12/GT ★★★★★ A competent and easy to use device 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 ● 24/192 ●

ViewSonicVMP72 117 04.10/GT ★★★★★ A decent streamer at a good price 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 ● 24/96 ●

138 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 NETWORK SYSTEMS 139

Media streamers
STREAMERScontinued

Coaxial out
Optical out

Resolution
Co-axial in
Optical in
HDMI out

(bit/khz)
Wireless
HDMI in

USB in

Video
Product £ Tested Verdict
£500-£1000
Cambridge Audio Minx Xi 600 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Easy to use, well built and sounds great. A terrificstreamer 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 ● 24/96

Camb. Audio Stream Magic6 700 08.12/FT ★★★★★ Best streamer £600-£1000, Awards 2013 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 ● 24/96

Olive O2M 700 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Affordable, but a bit too refined for our tastes 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 ● 24/96

Pioneer N-50 400 05.12/ST ★★★★★ Best streamer up to £600, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 24/192

Rotel RT-09 650 04.11/FT ★★★★★ Does a lot but not all of it to the standard we’d like 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 ● 24/192

£1000 and above

Bryston BDP-1 2350 06.11/FT ★★★★★ A true hi-fi media player 0 1 1 0 1 0 3 24/192

Cyrus Lyric09 3000 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Controversial looks aside, the Lyricis a really strong sonicperformer 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 ● 24/192

Cyrus Stream XP 2000 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Best streamer £1000-£2500, Awards 2011 0 0 1 0 2 3 1 ● 24/192

Cyrus Streamline 1600 08.11/GT ★★★★★ Best streaming system up to £2000, Awards 2011 0 0 1 0 2 3 1 ● 24/192

Cyrus Stream XP2-Qx 2300 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Best streaming system £2000+, Awards 2013 0 0 1 0 2 3 1 ● 24/192

Linn Kiko 2500 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Best musicsystem £1500+, Awards 2013 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 ● 24/192

Linn Majik DS-I 2500 02.10/FT ★★★★★ Gives a glimpse of the music-streaming future 1 1 1 4 1 1 0 ● 24/192

Naim NAC-N 172 XS 1650 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ Best streamer £1000-£2000, Awards 2013 0 2 0 0 2 2 1 ● 24/192

Naim ND5 XS 1950 01.12/ST ★★★★★ A thrillingly musical musicstreamer 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 ● 24/192

Naim NDS/555PS 12620 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Engaging sound, bags of detail and many features 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 ● 24/192

Naim NDX 2995 07.11/FT ★★★★★ Best streamer £2500+ , Awards 2011 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 ● 24/192

NaimUniti 2670 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Best streaming system £2000+, Awards 2011 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 ● 24/192

NaimUniti 2 2795 11.12/FT ★★★★★ Uniti continues to lead the market at this price 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 ● 24/192

Naim UnitiLite 1650 12.12/FT ★★★★★ UnitiLite hits the streaming sweet spot 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 ● 24/192

Naim UnitiQute 1600 12.11/ST ★★★★★ Systems Product of the Year, Awards 2010 0 0 1 0 2 2 1 ● 24/192

Naim UnitiQute 2 1150 09.13/FT ★★★★★ Best musicsystem £800-£1500, Awards 2013 0 0 1 0 2 2 1 ● 32/192

Pixel MagicLumin 5000 02.14/FT ★★★★★ A fine player that leads the field in terms of file compatibility 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 24/192

Sony HAP-Z1ES 2000 02.14/FT ★★★★★ A smartly designed, superb-sounding piece of hi-fi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ● 24/192

T+A MP 1260R 2700 12.10/FT ★★★★★ Amazing – this is proper high-end hi-fi 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 ● 24/192

Yamaha NP-S2000 1400 01.12/ST ★★★★★ Network streamer – a solid piece of hi-fi hardware 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 ● 24/96

Children of the resolution

Want to know more? Scan
Interestedbyhi-resaudio?Here’sourguideto this to read our in depth
figuringoutwhat’swhatwiththeformat overview on whathifi.com

What is high-res audio?
High-res audio has been around for a while but it’s
only up until now that it’s received a push into the
mainstream. But what exactly is it? A full
definition is still somewhat hazy but it’s
considered to be anything that has a higher
sampling frequency and bit depth than CD
(16-bit/44.1kHz).
That usually means listening to recordings
sampled at 96kHz and 192kHz at 24-bit depth, a
hefty increase on CD and much, much closer to
the original master of the track. You can also get
files with 44.1kHz, and 176.4kHz sampling rate but
they tend to be less common.
Begun, the format wars have
There are several file formats to choose from
including FLAC and Apple’s ALAC format. There
are others including WAV, AIFF and DSD (used by
Super Audio CD).
Each has its benefits and drawbacks but your pick
will come down to whether that format is
supported by your kit as not all devices, systems
or services will support the above formats.
Currently, Sonos does not even support high
resolution music playback so check before you buy.
Who supports it
As we mentioned Sonos does not support 24-bit
playback and iTunes doesn’t feature support for
FLAC (but 24-bit files are supported).
However, various companies are launching new
products to take advantage of the recent interest
in high-res audio with Astell & Kern, FiiO and Sony
demoing new products at the 2014 Las Vegas
CES. Sony showed its commitment by revealing a
new range of products including its NWZ ZX1
Walkman and its HAP Z1ES media streamer.

DACs such as Arcam’s irDAC and Naim’s DAC V1

can handle hi-res audio stored on a PC. Streamers
such as Pioneer’s N50 and Cambridge Audio’s
Stream Magic 6 can belt out tunes with
smartphones and phablets like the LG G2 and the
Sony HAP Z1ES Galaxy Note 3 getting in on the act.
£2000

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 139

Music/Video players | Set-top boxes 140 SET-TOP BOXES

Set-topboxes
Freeview Large choice of digital TV channels via a rooftop aerial
Freesat Much like Freeview, but takes signal from a satellite dish
Subscription Services from Sky and Virgin give a vast array of premium content

Ourrecommendations

capacity (GB)
Hard drive

HDMI out
Freeview

YouView
Freesat

Tuners

Smart
Virgin
Sky
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
EquinuxTizi 150 03.11/FT ★★★★★ Wi-fi Freeview foryour iPad, iPhone or iPodTouch ● 1 n/a 0

Humax DTR-T1000 230 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Best Digital HD recorder, Awards 2012 ● 2 500 1

Humax DTR-T1010 (500GB) 230 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best Freeview HD recorder, Awards 2013 ● 2 500 1

Humax Foxsat HDR 300 04.10/GT ★★★★★ If you’re looking to try Freesat, this is the way we’d do it ● 2 320 1

Humax HD-FOXT2 100 07.10/GT ★★★★★ Best Freeview HD receiver, Awards 2011 ● 1 n/a 1

Humax HDR-1000S (500GB) 220 01.13/FT ★★★★★ Best Freesat recorder, Awards 2013 ● 2 500 1

IcecryptT2400 (2TB) 330 01.12/FT ★★★★★ Loads of storage, but could do with more features ● 2 2TB 1

PanasonicDMR-PWT500 350 01.12/FT ★★★★★ PVR box meets Blu-ray player ● 2 320 1 ●

Philips DTR-5520 150 07.10/GT ★★★★★ Fine in its own right, but there’s better out there ● 2 n/a 1

Philips HDT8520 270 09.10/GT ★★★★★ Excellent Freeview HD+ box ● 2 500 1

Sagem DTR94250S 250 04.10/GT ★★★★★ A capable if unspectacular buy ● 2 250 1 ●

Samsung BD-D8500 450 05.11/FT ★★★★★ Freeview meets Blu-ray in this handily sized box ● 2 500 1 ●

Samsung STB-E7500 270 09.12/FT ★★★★★ One of the best, most flexible, Freeview HDTV recorders ● 2 500 1 ●

Sky + HD 1TB 249 Aw.12/GT ★★★★★ Product of the year,Set-top boxes, Awards 2012 ● 2 1TB 1

Sky + HD 2TB 250 Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best subscription service, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHEYEAR ● 2 1TB 1

SonySVR-HDT1000 300 12.11/GT ★★★★★ One to appeal to the ’bigger is better’ crowd ● 2 1TB 1

TechniSat HDFS 180 04.10/FT ★★★★★ A superb solution for its price ● 1 n/a 1

TVonics DTR-HD500 280 12.10/FT ★★★★★ A clever and well-presented PVR ● 2 500 1

Virgin Media Samsung V+ 99 07.09/FT ★★★★★ An alternative toSky HD, but still less high-def content ● 3 320 1 ●

Virgin MediaTiVo 200 06.11/FT ★★★★★ Best cable recorder, Awards 2011 ● 3 1TB 1 ●

Music/videoplayers
A category of products that has been put under increasing pressure by the rise of the ubiquitous
smartphone. At the most basic level it will be a standard music player that can be use in the gym.
Higher-end machines will add video, internet browsing and apps as well.
Screen size (in)

Ourrecommendations Web browsing

Storage (GB)

Dimensions
Resolution

Product £ Tested Verdict (hwd, mm)

Up to £500
Apple iPod Classic160GB 229 09.09/FT ★★★★★ Carry your entire musiccollection, uncompressed 2.5 320x240 160 60x100x14

Apple iPod Nano 16GB (2012) 130 01.13/FT ★★★★★ A simple, attractive, music-playing wonder 2.5 240x240 16 77x40x5

Apple iPod Shuffle 2GB 40 12.11/GT ★★★★★ Simple and brilliantly effective n/a n/a 2 30x30x10

Apple iPodTouch 64GB (2012) 330 12.12/FT ★★★★★ Best iPodTouch so far, but it’s fast becoming niche 4 1136x640 64 ● 123x59x6

Archos 5 InternetTablet 280 03.10/GT ★★★★★ A desirable media player with the occasional flaw 4.8 800x480 32 ● 80x130x13

Cowon X7 200 02.11/FT ★★★★★ A genuine rival to the monopoly of Apple 4.3 480x272 120 ● 127x79x15

Cowon Z2 200 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ A great musicplayer with good sound and flexible storage 3.7 800x480 16 ● 116x63x12

Creative Zen Style M100 4GB 35 12.11/GT ★★★★★ An ultra-portable player with punch 1.45 128x128 4 55x44x13

SanDiskSansa Clip+ 8GB 40 12.11/GT ★★★★★ A worthy Apple alternative 1 96x96 8 60x40x20

Sony NWZ-F805 16GB 200 01.13/FT ★★★★★ This multimedia Walkman is a fine choice 3.5 800x400 16 ● 115x57x9

Sony NWZ-ZX1 500 03.14/FT ★★★★★ A seriously impressive first attempt at a premium high-res audio player 4 854x480 128 ● 123x61x16

“We see the iPod Touch as an ideal option if you don’t use a smartphone,
and/or want a separate portable device just for all your music, video and games.
The Touch does have arguably better graphics and sound quality, even compared
with its Nexus 7 rival”
December 2012

140 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 Concerned about
your personal
information
security?

So are we.
Virus, Spam, Hacking and Phishing.
Your personal information is highly
valuable to hackers and the range of
threats they have created to get hold of
it is growing every day. Whatever security
products you deploy to protect yourself against
these threats, make sure they have achieved
the highest standard of certified performance.
Demand they carry the Checkmark.

Checkmark –
certifying the
USA Headquarters & Test Facility
Irvine, California, USA · Telephone: +1 (949) 870 3250
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performance of Cardiff, UK · Telephone +44 (0) 2920 548 400

China Headquarters & Test Facility
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security products Asia Headquarters & Test Facility

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for 17 years.
Full details of West Coast Labs product testing, certification and
performance validation services can be found at www.westcoastlabs.com

10311 'Concerned About …?'UK.indd 1 13/11/2013 15:09

Smartphones | Tablets 142 SMARTPHONES, TABLETS & MP3 PLAYERS

Tablets
Android Offers great flexibility and innovation
Apple iOS Fantastic ease of use; massive choice of quality apps
Windows New kid on the block. Watch this space

Theshortlist

NEW NEW
ENTRY ENTRY

Apple iPad Air Apple iPad Mini Retina Google Nexus 7

Alsoconsider

Screen size (in)

Storage (GB)

Dimensions
Resolution

(hwd, mm)
NFC
Product £ Tested Verdict

OS

3G
Up to £600
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 16GB 160 04.13/GT ★★★★★ A great option for those looking for a user-friendly tablet Android ● 7 1280x800 16/32 193x137x10

Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 200 01.14/FT ★★★★★ A n excellent tablet but Android fans might find it a little restrictive Android ● 7 1920x1200 16/32/64 186x128x9

Asus VivoTab ME400 400 04.13/GT ★★★★★ A convincing rival to the MicrosoftSurface in the Windows 8 space Windows 8 ● 10.1 1366x768 32/64 263x171x10

Apple iPad 2 16GB Wi-Fi 400 09.11/GT ★★★★★ Best tablet, Awards 2011 iOS ● 9.7 1024x768 16/32 241x186x9

Apple iPad Mini 64GB Wi-Fi 430 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Apple hits the bullseye. Again iOS ● 7.9 1024x768 16/32/64 200x135x7

Apple iPad Mini/Retina display 320 01.14/ST ★★★★★ An absolutely superb tablet that shows its rivals how it’s done iOS 7 ● 7.9 2048x1536 16/32/64 200x135x7

Apple iPad 4 16GB Wi-Fi 400 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Best tablet over 8in, Awards 2013 iOS ● 9.7 2048x1536 16/32/64 240x190x9

Apple iPad Air 400 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Refined and improved, the iPad Air is a stunning piece of technology iOS 7 ● 9.7 2048x1536 16/32/64 240x170x8

Asus Eee PadTransformer 380 09.11/GT ★★★★★ A competitive tablet with a keyboard dock Android ● 10.1 1280x800 16/32 271x177x13

Asus Eee PadTransformer Prime 500 07.12/FT ★★★★★ A slim and smart tablet that we love Android ● 10.1 1280x800 16/32 181x263x8

AsusTransformer Pad Infinity 600 04.13/GT ★★★★★ A very capable iPad alternative and one of the best android tablets Android 10.1 1900x1200 32/64 263x181x9

Blackberry PlayBook 16GB 400 09.11/GT ★★★★★ There’s plenty on offer here, but lacks apps QNX ● 7 1024x600 16/32/64 130x194x10

Dell XPS 10 32GB 340 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Not perfect but an appealing alternative to the usual suspects Windows RT ● 10.1 1366x768 32/64 270x180x10

Google Nexus 7 160 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Best tablet up to £300, Awards 2012. PRODUCT OFTHEYEAR Android ● ● 7 1280x800 16/32 199x120x11

Google Nexus 7 (2013) 200 01.14/ST ★★★★★ Best tablet up to 8in, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR Android ● ● 7 1920x1200 16/32 200x114x9

Google Nexus 10 319 01.13/FT ★★★★★ Great performance and price: a real iPad-botherer Android ● 10 2560x1060 16/32 264x178x9

LG G Pad 260 01.14/ST ★★★★★ Looks the part but struggles against its price rivals Android ● 8.3 1920x1200 16 216x127x8

Kobo Arc16GB 160 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Not for musicbuffs but a great budget option nonetheless Android 7 1280x800 16/32 190x120x10

Motorola Xoom 480 09.11/GT ★★★★★ A worthy adversary to the vaunted iPad Android ● 10.1 1280x800 32 249x168x13

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 450 02.14/FT ★★★★★ A great screen that’s let down by a cluttered interface Android ● 10.1 2500x1600 16/32/64 171x243x8

Samsung GalaxyTab 2 7.0 160 04.13/GT ★★★★★ Find it for the right price and it’s a capable all-rounder Android ● 7 1024x600 8/16 190x120x10

Sony XperiaTabletS 330 04.13/FT ★★★★★ Plenty of potential, but there are niggles Android ● 9.4 1280x800 16/32 240x170x10

Sony XperiaTablet Z 399 06.13/FT ★★★★★ Sony fans will love it, but there are tablets out there for less money Android ● 10.1 1920x1200 16/32 172x266x69

Tesco Hudl 120 01.14/FT ★★★★★ Not flawless, but this is a superb budget tablet fromTesco Android 7 1440x900 16 192x129x10

Smartphones
Android Offers great flexibility and innovation
Apple iOS Fantastic ease of use; massive choice of quality apps
Windows New kid on the block. Watch this space

Ourrecommendations
Screen size (in)

Storage (GB)

Dimensions
Resolution

(hwd, mm)
NFC

Product Tested Verdict

OS

4G

Apple iPhone 4S 07.12/ST ★★★★★ Former reigning smartphone, now replaced but still good iOS 3.5 960x640 16/32/64 115x59x9

Apple iPhone 5S Aw.13/FT ★★★★★ Best smartphone, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR iOS ● 4.0 1136x640 16/32/64 124x59x8

Google Nexus 4 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A top performer and a brilliant realisation of Android power Android 4.7 1280x768 8/16 134x69x9

Google Nexus 5 01.14/FT ★★★★★ A powerhouse of a phone in every respect Android ● 4.95 1920x1080 16/32 138x69x9

142 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 SMARTPHONES, TABLETS & MP3 PLAYERS 143

SMARTPHONEScontinued

Screen size (in)

Smartphones
Storage (GB)

Dimensions
Resolution

(hwd, mm)
NFC
Product £ Tested Verdict

OS

4G
HTCOne 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Sets the bar high for smartphones in 2013 Android ● 4.7 1080x1920 32 137x68x9

HTCOne X+ 01.13/ST ★★★★★ Well worth considering: good for musicand a joy to use Android 4.7 1280x720 32/64 134x70x9

HTCOne XL 03.13/FT ★★★★★ Great for mobile media fans but its poor battery life just takes the edge off it Android ● 4.7 1280x720 32 135x70x9

HTC8S 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Capable and fun, if feature-light Windows ● 4.7 800x480 4 121x63x10

LG Optimus 4X HD 01.13/ST ★★★★★ Not outstanding, but a worthy alternative to the best Android 4.7 1280x720 16 132x68x9

LG Optimus L5 II 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Not a thrilling phone but the user experience is good Android 4.0 800x433 4 118x62x9

LG G2 12.13/FT ★★★★★ Unbridled power and thoughtful design: a fantasticphone Android ● ● 5.2 1920x1080 16/32 139x71x9

Nokia Lumia 920 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A promising start for Nokia’s flapship Windows ● 4.5 1280x768 32 130x71x11

Nokia Lumia 925 09.13/FT ★★★★★ The best Windows Phone yet Windows ● 4.5 1280x768 16/32 129x71x9

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 07.12/ST ★★★★★ Great in many ways but pipped by rivals for audio Android 4.65 1280x720 16/32 136x68x9

Samsung Galaxy Note 07.12/ST ★★★★★ A hybrid between a smart phone and a tablet Android 5.29 1280x800 16/32 147x83x10

Samsung Galaxy Note II 01.13/ST ★★★★★ Massive screen, massive battery, very tempting Android 5.55 1280x720 16/32/64 151x81x9

Samsung GalaxyS II 01.12/GT ★★★★★ Still great but upped by the new kids on the block Android 4.3 800x480 16/32/64 125x66x8

Samsung GalaxyS III 08.12/FT ★★★★★ Best smartphone, Awards 2012 Android 4.8 1280x720 16/32 137x71x9

Samsung GalaxyS4 07.13/GT ★★★★★ Better than its predecessor but not as good as its rivals Android ● 5.0 1920x1080 16/32/64 137706x8

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcS 01.12/GT ★★★★★ An excellent addition to the market Android 4.2 854x480 1 125x63x9

Sony Xperia S 07.12/ST ★★★★★ A real rival to the iPhone Android 4.3 1280x720 32 128x64x11

Sony XperiaT 01.13/ST ★★★★★ A strong all-rounder for musicand movie lovers Android 4.55 1280x720 16 129x67x9

Sony Xperia Z 07.13/GT ★★★★★ A triumph forSony – one capable of taking the fight to Google Android ● 5 1920x1080 16 139x71x8

Give your TV a tune-up

THXtune-up WanttosetyourTV’scolourandsoundsettingsproperly?
Want to set your TV’s colour and sound settings properly?
£free for a Here’sour(brief)guideofwhattoexpectwhenyoubootup
Here’s our (brief) guide of what to expect when you boot up
limited time theTHXTune-upapp.Bewarned:you’llneedthelatest
the THX Tune-up app. Be warned: you’ll need the latest
versionofAndroid/iOS,anHDMIadapteroranAppleTV
version of Android/iOS, an HDMI adapter or an Apple TV
devicewillberequiredtocarryoutthissetup

Vision

Brightness
Many people have the brightness on their TV’s
set too high. The ‘THX’ symbol you see above
has a drop shadow behind it: turn the brightness
control down until you can’t see it.
Tint
Normally you’d need to put a pair of paper thin
specs on to detect the tint. Instead you can use
your device’s camera, leaving you able to
correct the image without looking like an idiot.
Sound

Contrast Colour Phase

In general, your TV’s contrast will be set too Colour set-up is another chance to use your Speakers work in tandem and when they don’t,
high. To get it exactly right, turn it up until you device’s camera. The screen will be covered it’s rather audible. Sort it out by tapping each
see only a white screen, then back it off until with a red filter and you’ll be able to tweak the speaker (in a clockwise direction) to determine
you can differentiate the eight white boxes. colour saturation up (or down) as you see fit. which one is working as it should be.

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 143

HDMI cables 144 ACCESSORIES

HDMIcables
Digital cables that carry both picture and sound. These carry control signals
as well, so they can integrate the operation of components in your system.

Ourrecommendations

HDMI type
tested (m)
Length as
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £80
Audioquest Pearl 23 06.11/FT ★★★★★ Best HDMI cable, Awards 2012 1 1.4

Cambridge Audio 500 (5m) 69 06.10/GT ★★★★★ A perfectly acceptable cable for the money 5 1.3a

Chord CompanySupershield 50 10.10/GT ★★★★★ Still a class-leading cable, but now it’s 1.4 too 1 1.3

Clearer Aud C-line HDMI (2m) 60 08.07/FT ★★★★★ Will improve even 1080p pictures, helping stability. Well worth the money 1 2

Kimber Kable HD-09 73 03.09/GT ★★★★★ Picture quality is up with the best and it creates a wide sound field 2 1.3

PhilexThor Flat HDMI 40 10.09/GT ★★★★★ A gutsy, well built HDMI cable. 1 1.3

PhilexThor HDMI/DVI kit 60 09.06/FT ★★★★★ A very decent cable for not much cash - you can’t really go wrong 5 1.3

QED HDMI-P 50 11.08/FT ★★★★★ This award winning cable just got better 1 1.3

QED Performance HDMI 70 03.09/GT ★★★★★ Capable performer – finely balanced sound and a wonderfully rendered picture 3 1.3

QED Performance HDMI-e 35 03.11/FT ★★★★★ Perfectly good cable that just falls down in its pricing 1 1.4

QED Perf. HDMI-e S/speed 60 11.10/FT ★★★★★ Communicates a superb and natural colour balance and virtually noise-free images 2 1.4

QED Profile HDMI 25 01.12/FT ★★★★★ Now with 1.4 status, this is still a worthy cable 1 1.4

QED Qunex HDMI-P (5M) 75 09.08/GT ★★★★★ Fantasticpicture quality mated with a dynamicand powerful sound 5 1.3

ThatCable HDMI 5 10.09/FT ★★★★★ Brilliant way to spend a fiver - will give rivals up to £20 something to think about 1.5 1.3

ThatCable HDMI (5m) 10 06.10/GT ★★★★★ A no-brainer for those on a tight budget 5 1.3a

Vivanco Prowire 45 10.10/GT ★★★★★ A fine cable that’s worth seeking out 1.5 1.3

Vivanco Sound and Image 30 11.09/GT ★★★★★ A respectable upgrade, it provides greater fidelity in sound and vision over budget cables 2 1.3

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 ACCESSORIES 145

HDMI cables
HDMICABLEScontinued

HDMI type
tested (m)
Length as
Product £ Tested Verdict
£80 and above
Wireworld Chroma (Miami) 60 10.09/GT ★★★★★ Highly competent, although lacking in low-frequency heft 1 1.3

Wireworld Chroma 6 60 Aw.10/FT ★★★★★ Best HDMI cable £50+, Awards 2010. Great upgrade cable for higher-end systems 1 1.4

Wireworld Island 6 46 10.10/GT ★★★★★ Packs a firm punch and strong dynamics 1.4 2.0

AudioquestCinnamon 80 01.11/FT ★★★★★ A top-notch HDMI that’s a credit to any system 2 1.4

Audioquest Forest 80 06.10/GT ★★★★★ A true and worthy rival to Chord’s Supershield 5 1.4

Audioquest HDMI-1 180 09.08/GT ★★★★★ This stylish cable offers a solid, cohesive image with good sound 3 1.3

Audioquest HDMI-X 95 03.09/GT ★★★★★ A real entertainer – chunky bass and images are well defined 3 1.3

Atlas HDMI 160 07.07/GT ★★★★★ Upgraded version of the existing Atlas HDMI - delivers good detail and contrast 7 1.3

Black Rhodium Coral HDMI 100 10.06/FT ★★★★★ Worthy of serious consideration - pictures are highly detailed, colours convincing 4 1.3

Chord Company Active 115 10.09/GT ★★★★★ Muscular-sounding and excellent in every regard 1.5 1.3

Chord Co. Active Silver + HDMI 95 01.11/FT ★★★★★ An impressive successor to the old Active cable 1 1.4

Chord Co. Supershield (5m) 90 06.10/GT ★★★★★ A punchy award winner that defies its low price tag 5 1.3a

Ecosse Picture Perfect Ultra 110 09.08/GT ★★★★★ This Ecosse gives a punchy, powerful performance with great detail levels 5 1.3

Ecosse Picture Perfect Ultra + 169 09.08/GT ★★★★★ With its punchy, powerful and composed production, this cable oozes dynamics 5 1.3

QED Qunex HDMI-P (7m) 85 07.07/GT ★★★★★ Stunning value, offering a cracking picture, and great for budget set ups 7 1.0

QED Reference 125 06.10/GT ★★★★★ An assured, but expensive, performer 5 1.3a

QEDSignature HDMI 150 10.09/GT ★★★★★ It’s competent and classy, and looks good too 1 1.3

Supra HF100 HDMI (8m) 112 08.06/GT ★★★★★ Not just pretty but it delivers impressive performance over eight metres 8 1.0

van den Hul Flat 180 90 10.09/GT ★★★★★ Typical van den Hul quality from a hinged cable that doesn’t fall out of its socket 2 1.3b

van den Hul Flat HDMI (3m) 105 03.09/GT ★★★★★ One of the best HDMI cables we’ve ever heard 3 1.3

van den Hul Ultimate 300 10.08/FT ★★★★★ It’s pricey, but has good performance 1 1.3

Vivanco SHQ Ultra 80 06.10/FT ★★★★★ It’s an enjoyable watch, although there’s some reservation 1.2 1.4

Wireworld Chroma 5 HDMI (7m) 109 07.07/GT ★★★★★ Flexible cable that delivers pictures as good as any HDMI cable at this price 7 1.0

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Digital interconnects 146 ACCESSORIES

Digitalinterconnects
USB An increasingly common way to connect your computer to your hi-fi
Optical Digital cable that uses light to transmit sound between components
Coaxial Sends audio via an electrical signal between your hi-fi and AV kit

Theshortlist

AWARDWINNER AWARDWINNER AWARDWINNER

QED Performance Graphite
Awards 2012: Best Optical Digital Cable
“The sound through this cable is incredibly
detailed and startlingly clear. There’s a good
grasp of dynamics, too.”
QED Performance Supra USB 2.0
Awards 2012: Best Coaxial Digital Cable Awards 2012: Best USB Cable
“The “QED is good at conveying subtleties. “It helps deliver impeccable timing and
There’s a good sense of energy too, with plenty of energy, both of which translate
plenty of attack.” into a tangible sense of fun.”

Length tested (m)

Alsoconsider

Type
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £50
Audioquest Forest USB 1.5 25 11.10/FT ★★★★★ Got a budget laptop and a budget DAC?This cable is ideal for connecting them USB 1.5

Audioquest VDM-1 43 09.08/GT ★★★★★ This interconnect helps deliver a pleasing, refined sound Co-axial 1

Atlas Fibre Optic 32 06.09/GT ★★★★★ Fine, substantial, budget cable choice Optical 1

EcosseThe Producer 15 09.08/GT ★★★★★ A fine budget offering - with punch Co-axial 0.8

Profigold PROI2102 30 03.11/FT ★★★★★ Simple upgrade to the iPod/iPhone-to-USB cable - musicsounds cleaner and clearer USB 2

QED Performance Coaxial 30 10.08/GT ★★★★★ Best coaxial digital cable, Awards 2012 Co-axial 1

QED Performance Graphite 40 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Best optical digital cable, Awards 2012 Optical 1

Supra USB 2.0 29 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Best USB cable, Awards 2012 USB 1

True Colours Industries Coral 35 06.09/GT ★★★★★ Best digital interconnect, Awards 2010. Excellent optical lead Optical 1

Vivanco SHQ1112D 40 09.09/GT ★★★★★ At this comfortable price, this Vivanco’s rather tempting Co-axial 1.2

Wireworld Nova 6 40 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Like an up-and-coming band: unrefined but likeable and energetic Optical 1

Wireworld Ultraviolet 5 40 04.07/GT ★★★★★ Carries portentious weight but the presentation is ill-defined and ill-disciplined Co-axial 1

£50 and above

AudioquestCinnamon 60 11.12/FT ★★★★★ Like a fine paintbrush: controlled and delicate but lacking the big, broad strokes of a roller USB 1.5

Atlas Equator Optical 50 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Worth checking out, but not for the basshunters Optical 1

Chord Company Optichord 51 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Confident, competent and extremely likeable. Highly recommended Optical 1

Chord Company Prodac 80 09.09/GT ★★★★★ It’ll help your system deliver drive, but it’s just pipped on price Co-axial 1

Chord Co. ProdacPro Digital 70 05.11/FT ★★★★★ Even better following an upgrade to its plugs Co-axial 1

Clearer Audio Copper-line 75 97 Aw.08/FT ★★★★★ This is another fine cable from the Copper-line stable. It’s well worth a listen Co-axial 1

Clearer Aud. Silverline Optimus 185 09.09/GT ★★★★★ The sheer brilliance of this cable makes it stand out Co-axial 0.5

EcosseThe DirectorSE 89 09.09/GT ★★★★★ Spacious sounding and great with higher frequencies Co-axial 1

Furutech Formula 2 55 Aw.11/FT ★★★★★ Best USB cable, Awards 2011 USB 1.2

Imp Audio Silver Knight Exec 120 03.08/FT ★★★★★ This is a beefy, breezy cable with plenty of composure but it’s far from cheap Co-axial 1

Kimber USB 52 11.12/GT ★★★★★ Worth an audition if you’re after something laid-back USB 1

QED Qunex 75 Signature 80 09.09/FT ★★★★★ Beautifully made, but not quite as thrilling as we’d like Co-axial 1

QED U Play (Bluetooth ) 65 05.10/FT ★★★★★ It’s small, cheap, and does an effcient job Bluetooth 10

Vertere Pulse D-Fi 70 Aw.12/FT ★★★★★ A must-audition if you can stretch your budget USB 1

Wireworld Ultraviolet 5 USB 50 08.09/FT ★★★★★ Best USB cable, Awards 2010. If you use digital kit, this needs to be on your audition list USB 2

“There’s plenty of finesse under all that energy too, with intricate rhythm parts
and subtle dynamic changes all coming through clearly. The Wireworld Luna 6
really does serve up an accomplished and musical performance”
December 2009

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 ACCESSORIES 147

Analogue interconnects
Analogueinterconnects
These carry audio signal from source to amplifier, or between pre-amplifier and power amplifier.
Some use a shielding construction to reduce external electrical interference.

Length tested (m)

Ourrecommendations

3.5mm-to-RCA
XLR (blanaced)
RCA phono
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £50
Atlas Element Integra (1m) 45 11.13/GT ★★★★★ Best analogue interconnect, Awards 2013 ● 1

Belkin Mini-Stereo Cable 13 12.08/GT ★★★★★ Cheap MP3 cable with reasonably exciting sound 1.8

Chord CompanyCrimson 38 02.09/GT ★★★★★ A superb all-rounder that’ll work wonders in a sub-£1000 system ● 1

Chord CompanyCrimsonPlus 45 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Fantasticcontrol, expression and detail resolution ● 1

Chord CompanyCrimsonPlus 40 06.11/GT ★★★★★ Best analogue interconnect, Awards 2011 ● 1

Clear. Aud. C-line Alpha One 30 12.11/FT ★★★★★ A bargain interconnect that should be on your shortlist ● 1

Ecosse ConductorCA1.2 49 06.11/GT ★★★★★ Excellent with detail - a good all-rounder ● 1

EcosseThe Composer 37 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Lacks excitement, but a lovely design with warm and punchy sounds ● 0.8

Griffin Aux Audio Cable 3011 15 12.08/GT ★★★★★ Last-generation iPhone compatible 3.5 plugs 1.8

Ixos XHA516-100 (1m) 40 09.07/FT ★★★★★ Refined - if you’re after a gentle, mature sound they are fine ● 1

Merlin Mozart 40 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Open and exuberant, if lacking in warmth ● 1

Profigold PROI3301 17 12.08/GT ★★★★★ Excellent 3.5mm – 3.5mm cable 1

QED Audio 1 25 09.07/GT ★★★★★ Good value, but struggles with challenging tracks ● 1

QED Performance Audio 2 40 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Agile, fun and nuanced: would do well in pretty much any system ● 1

QED Profile 18 06.11/GT ★★★★★ At the top of the first upgrade tree ● ● 1

Wireworld Luna 37 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Excellent with subtlety and dynamics: should be on any interconnect shortlist ● 1

Wireworld Luna 6 36 12.09/GT ★★★★★ Looks strange, but delivers a great refined sound ● 1

£50 and above

Atlas Equator Integra 75 02.12/FT ★★★★★ A recommended second-upgrade cable ● ● 1

Black Rhodium Harmony 60 08.08/GT ★★★★★ It offers power and detail, but we found the top-end just a bit too harsh ● 1

Black Rhodium Prelude 80 09.07/FT ★★★★★ Very good cable - sound is crisp and detailed, but still with lovely, chunky bass ● ● 1

Brilliance Synergy 83 10.06/FT ★★★★★ Best stereo interconnect, Awards 2006. Sensible price ● 1

Chord CompanyCobraPlus 66 10.10/FT ★★★★★ The perfect tonicfor a dull system ● 1

Chord Company iChord 50 12.08/GT ★★★★★ Expensive, but definitely worth it 1

Chord Crimson Vee3 50 11.13/GT ★★★★★ A nice, easy-going cable that’s a little too restrained 1

Clear. Aud.C-line Alpha 85 09.08/FT ★★★★★ Entry-level – solid construction and a smooth sound. Not for sonicthrill seekers ● ● 1.8

DNM ResonTBB100 85 09.07/GT ★★★★★ ’Bullet’ plugs and solid-core conductors really work. Ideal for pricier systems ● 1

Furutech Alpha Line-1 80 03.11/FT ★★★★★ A cable for owners of midrange systems to get very excited by - very good indeed ● 1

Ixos Xen HXA-716 80 08.08/GT ★★★★★ It’s pedestrian to a point, but does a good job with unearthing detail ● 1

Merlin Bach Mk.IV 70 06.11/GT ★★★★★ This new version needs a touch of flair ● ● 1

QED J2P 50 12.09/FT ★★★★★ Fast and agile 3.5mm-RCA cable ● 1.5

QED Reference Audio J2P 50 12.09/FT ★★★★★ Clean sounding and packed with detail ● 1.5

Russ Andrews GQ-24 UltPlate 73 12.08/GT ★★★★★ Best iPod cable, Awards 2010. Punchy cable for iPod or iPhone owners 1

van den HulThe Name 60 09.12/GT ★★★★★ Energy and fun trump ultimate precision ● 0.8

Atlas Mavros 750 08.08/FT ★★★★★ Provided you have an appropriate system you’ll find these cables work a treat ● 1

Chord Co. Chameleon Plus 125 11.11/FT ★★★★★ New plugs make these even more essential ● 1

Chord Company Indigo Plus 995 05.09/FT ★★★★★ It’s genius in an interconnect - but you need the right system ● 1

Clearer Audio Copperline 135 05.07/FT ★★★★★ Produces a fast, well separated sound, with plenty of detail and dynamics ● ● 1

DNM Interconnect-HTFN 300 06.11/GT ★★★★★ A hugely capable - but expensive - cable ● ● 1

Ecosse Maestro MA2 177 05.08/FT ★★★★★ The Maestro MA2 may be getting on years, but it remains appealing ● 0.8

Ecosse Nu Diva 140 09.05/FT ★★★★★ Not cheap, but they will take your listening experience to a new level ● 0.8

EcosseThe Baton Mk II 104 08.08/GT ★★★★★ Although there’s much to admire, the Baton Mk II can struggle to gel sounds ● ● 0.8

EcosseThe Symphony 225 03.05/FT ★★★★★ Authoritative and detailed, a real all-rounder, but it is 10 percent too pricey ● ● 0.8

QEDSignature Audio S 190 09.09/FT ★★★★★ QED’s new flagship interconnect offers great dynamics and punch ● 1

QEDSignature Audio XT 150 03.09/FT ★★★★★ Another fine interconnect from QED, but it remains a few short steps off class-leading status ● 1

Russ Andrews Crystal CU 184 08.08/GT ★★★★★ This is a first-rate cable that can handle any sounds ● 1

van den HulThe Wave 100 01.09/FT ★★★★★ The Wave has a formidable array of talents and is one of the best cables at this kind of money ● 1

van den HulThe Well 100 06.11/GT ★★★★★ An ideal booster for thin sounding kit ● ● 1

Wireworld Oasis 6 130 06.11/GT ★★★★★ A truly splendid cable for kit worth £800-£1000 ● ● 1

Subscriptions 0844 848 8813 email: whathifi@servicehelpline.co.uk

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Speaker cables | Mains products 148 ACCESSORIES

Mainsproducts
IEC Usually a three-pin connector used in most hi-fi (and kettles)
Figure of 8 Small, two-pin connector. Tends to be used on lower-priced products
Blocks and conditioners Multi-plug units, some of which attempt to filter noise out of the mains

Number of sockets
Figure of 8 (2-pin)
Ourrecommendations

Conditioner

IEC(3-pin)
Cable
Block
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £100
Chord CompanySuperScreen 65 05.09/GT ★★★★★ Gives your system superior solidity ● ● n/a

Clear. Aud. C-Line Alpha One 25 11.10/FT ★★★★★ A fine first stage mains cable upgrade ● ● n/a

Clear.Aud.C-LAlpha P/HUB 90 04.11/FT ★★★★★ Makes a noticeable difference, but not the last word in cohesion ● ● ● 6

Ecosse Big Orange MK2+ 60 04.10/FT ★★★★★ Provides worthwhile gains in performance – and plenty of them ● ● n/a

EcosseThe Big Orange GR8 60 01.11/GT ★★★★★ Every bit as worthy as the standard three-pin version ● ● n/a

Lindy 6-way 40 12.08/FT ★★★★★ For just £40, this conditioner is a bona fide system booster ● ● ● 6

MerlinTarantula Figure ’8’ 40 01.11/GT ★★★★★ Incredible bang for your buckfrom Merlin ● ● n/a

MerlinTarantula MK6 40 11.10/FT ★★★★★ Best mains cable, Awards 2010. A good tweakfor a hi-fi or AV system ● ● n/a

Russ Andrews Powerkord-8 75 01.11/GT ★★★★★ An ideal choice for a simple upgrade ● ● n/a

Tacima CS929 40 08.06/FT ★★★★★ Explicitly illustrates the gains a modest outlay can achieve ● ● ● 6

£100 and above

Audioquest NRG 1.5 100 01.11/GT ★★★★★ A lively and precise cable that does much right ● ● n/a

Atlas Eos 147 05.09/GT ★★★★★ Well-balanced, delivering impressive depth and scale ● n/a

Clearer Audio Silver-line 150 07.06/FT ★★★★★ Capable of truly astonishing improvements ● n/a

Furutech G-320AG 165 02.11/GT ★★★★★ A pricy but worthwhile addition to your set-up ● ● n/a

Russ Andrews Powerlink 112 02.09/FT ★★★★★ A roaring success in many ways ● 4

R Andrews Ref P/Kord W350i 232 05.09/GT ★★★★★ If you have components costing £2000 upwards, consider this cable ● ● n/a

R Andrews Sig P/Kord W350i 275 11.06/GT ★★★★★ Top mains cable that will really get a system purring ● ● n/a

Russ Andrews X2 200 11.11/FT ★★★★★ Effective but suffers from a lack of sockets ● ● ● 2

Supra MD-06 150 07.08/FT ★★★★★ It adds clarity, but some might not like the leaner sound ● ● 6

van den Hul M/Server Hybrid 150 05.09/GT ★★★★★ Not boring or dull, but it’s just too relaxed and safe sounding ● ● n/a

Wireworld Stratus 52 100 08.10/FT ★★★★★ One of the best mains cables for this money ● ● n/a

Speakercables
These carry the audio signal from your amplifier to your speakers. Bi-wiring uses two runs
of cables per speaker and can lead to improvements in the speakers’ performance.

Theshortlist

AWARDWINNER
Audioquest FLX/SLiP 14/4 TalkElectronicsTalk3 QEDRevelation
Awards 2012: Best Speaker Cable £4/m £15/m

Alsoconsider
Biwire

Product £ Tested Verdict

Up to £10/m
Audioquest FLX-SLiP 14/4 5.80 11.13/GT ★★★★★ BestSpeaker Cable, Awards 2013. PRODUCT OFTHE YEAR
Audioquest G4 4.50 03.14/GT ★★★★★ Loses out when it comes to the weight and solidity of its sound. Exciting and articulate nonetheless
Audioquest X2 5 07.11/GT ★★★★★ A perfectly smooth and even-handed sounding performer
Atlas Element 3 11.09/FT ★★★★★ A fine budget upgrade, but you don’t have to spend too much more to do quite a bit better
Atlas Equator 2.0 OFC 6 03.14/GT ★★★★★ Allows for an impressive sense of weight and power, but doesn’t quite match its rivals
Atlas Equator Mk II 8 04.10/GT ★★★★★ It’s smooth and refined - it just needs a touch of verve
Chord Co. Carnival Silv. Screen 6 10.12/GT ★★★★★ Slightly overtaken by newer rivals, but still a mighty fine choice

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 ACCESSORIES 149

SPEAKERCABLEScontinued

Speaker cables
Biwire
Product £ Tested Verdict
Chord Company Leyline 2 07.11/GT ★★★★★ A cracker of a budget cable
Cl. Audio C-line Alpha Shield 5 10.12/GT ★★★★★ Restrained dynamics hold this otherwise good cable backfrom the full five stars
Ecosse CS 2.3 5 10.12/GT ★★★★★ Balanced, nuanced and an easy listen, but a little subdued
Ecosse CS 4.2 3 02.12/FT ★★★★★ A decent cable that needs a touch more punch ●

QED Ruby Anniversary 6 10.12/GT ★★★★★ Rich and detailed but lacking in rhythm and dynamics
QED Ruby Anniversary Evolution 6 03.14/GT ★★★★★ Rich, detailed, energeticand clean. A great cable
QEDSilver Anniversary XT 5 07.08/GT ★★★★★ Our budget cable Best Buy for three years on the trot
QED X-TC 4 09.10/FT ★★★★★ A great budget cable that’s able to hold its own
QED XT Evolution 6 10.09/FT ★★★★★ QED is now a twin threat in the sub-£10/m speaker cable market
Russ Andrews Kimber 4PR 7 07.08/GT ★★★★★ A powerful sounding cable - although lacking in refinement
Talk ElectronicsTalk 3 4 07.11/GT ★★★★★ An essential first cable upgrade
Wireworld Luna 7 6.50 03.14/GT ★★★★★ The all-round ability of this cable means it should sit well with a wide range of systems
WireworldThe Stream 16/2 5 10.12/GT ★★★★★ Still a cracking cable, but losing out to better competition
Wireworld Stream 7 6 11.13/GT ★★★★★ If you’re a fan of detail then you should definitely consider the Stream 7

£10/m and above

Atlas Hyper 2.0 15 07.08/GT ★★★★★ If your system warrants this kind of cable, you won’t be disappointed
Atlas Mavros (5m) 2290 08.08/FT ★★★★★ Pair with an extravagant system and get excellent performance ●

Chord CompanySignature 125 01.07/GT ★★★★★ One of the most effective upgrades you will ever hear if you own expensive kit
Ecosse MS2.4 50 01.08/FT ★★★★★ A massively detailed cable that reveals subtleties with refinement
Ecosse Reference MS-2.3 25 10.06/GT ★★★★★ This is a supremely well-balanced cable that does most things very well
Kimber 4VS 12 04.10/GT ★★★★★ An accomplished performer with an expressive sound
QED Revelation 15 04.10/GT ★★★★★ A fine cable that should be on your audition list
QEDSilver Anniv. XT Biwire 10 10.06/GT ★★★★★ A clear class-leader with exceptional sonictransparency on display ●

van den Hul CS122 17 04.10/GT ★★★★★ Still great with subtleties, but rivals have caught up
van den HulThe Clearwater 10 03.14/GT ★★★★★ A cable with an impressive level of detail and clarity

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Speaker stands 150 ACCESSORIES

Speakerstands
Many stands are hollow and can be filled with sand or other similar heavy materials. This is to
increase mass and dampening and the sonic benefit is tighter bass – although too much of it can
be counter-productive and end up deadening the sound.

Ourrecommendations

Dimensions
(hwd, cm)

Finishes
Fillable
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £5000
Apollo A3/6 80 07.10/GT ★★★★★ Spacious and well-focused fillable stands 60x23x26 ● 2

Atacama HMS2 200 07.09/FT ★★★★★ Retain detail and cohesion with these solid stands 60x31x31 ● 1

Atacama Nexus 6 70 12.00/FT ★★★★★ Still performing well after eight years 60x25x30 ● 1

Custom rc60 Deluxe 125 10.07/FT ★★★★★ This bespoke service has made a fine pair stands 60x20x25 5

Custom Design FS104 Sig. 200 09.11/GT ★★★★★ Best speaker stands, Awards 2013 62x16x18 ● 4

Custom Design RS300 90 03.07/GT ★★★★★ Minimal design, a thoroughly appealing listen 61x22x26 ● 2

Custom Design RS302 120 11.06/FT ★★★★★ Plenty of detail & clarity especially with vocals 61x22x26 ● 3

Hi Fi Racks PodiumT5 IV 150 09.11/GT ★★★★★ Ideal for those with forward sounding speakers 50x24x30 2

Kudos S50 200 09.11/GT ★★★★★ Highly recommended and agile stands 62x18x20 1

Mission Stance 100 07.09/FT ★★★★★ Will do a fine job with £200-£400 speakers 58x21x28 ● 3

Partington ANSA 60 150 09.11/GT ★★★★★ They remain fine stands - but no longer outstanding value 60x23x28 ● 1

Part. D’nought Broadside 300 08.08/FT ★★★★★ Deliver wide ranging improvements to sound 60x23x28 1

Partington Heavi 399 03.07/FT ★★★★★ If you demand the best, buy these 60x30x21 1

Part. Super Dreadnought 180 03.07/GT ★★★★★ Best £100+ speaker stands in Awards 2007 60x16x17 ● 1

PartingtonTrophy 130 07.06/GT ★★★★★ Hefty, glossy and suitable for all speakers 61x17x17 ● 2

Quadraspire QV60 250 07.10/GT ★★★★★ Unusual to look at, but brilliant to hear 58x30x30 4

Russ AndrewsTorlyte 336 03.07/GT ★★★★★ Good-looking wood stands that are a real find 50x16x18 1

Soundstyle Z2 70 11.08/FT ★★★★★ Best sub-£100 speaker stand in Awards 2007 57x17x23 ● 2

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Accessories
Best equipment support ACCESSORIES

Atacama Eris Eco 5.0 £460

BEST EQUIPMENT SUPPORT

ATACAMA ERIS ECO 5.0

What it is
Here’s a handsome, high-quality, modular equipment
rack that offers superb isolation from vibration and
sonic resonance for your electronics. It’s made from
steel and bamboo, which simultaneously maximises
its chances of doing the job properly while keeping
ecological considerations to the fore.
Why it won
The key is resonance and vibration control, of course,
and put simply the Atacama Eris Eco 5.0 performs
better than anything else we’ve come across this year.
Whatever the characteristics of your electronics –
detail, dynamism, bass definition, whatever – it’s given
greater expression via the Eris Eco 5.0 than on any
alternative. And the flexibility of the modular design
means it can grow with your system.

What the team say

To find out more: Buy direct today:
Visit atacama-audio.co.uk “A good kit-rack is a must-have – and not
Call 01455 283251 only does the Atacama perform brilliantly,
it’s modular and it looks good too”

150 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

 ACCESSORIES 151

AV & hi-fi racks | Headphone amps

AV&hi-firacks
Many racks are built to be expanded. Several manufacturers offer you a number of
shelving options for ready-made products, but what if you want to get more kit in a few years?
We like having the option to build upwards at a later date.

Ourrecommendations

Dimensions
(hwd, cm)
Modular

Finishes
Shelves
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £500
Alphason Finewood 1100 300 03.13/FT ★★★★★ Looks great and provides sturdy support for your kit 3 51x110x45 1

Alphason ST560/3 260 06.10/GT ★★★★★ A well isolated modular design that does much right ● 4 65x56x59 2

Atacama Equinox 339 11.09/GT ★★★★★ Still a good rack, but newer rivals offer more ● 2-5 Variablex60x55 3

Atacama Equinox AVI 380 05.07/FT ★★★★★ Neat solution to mount aTV above AV electronics 2 110x106x60 3

Atacama Eris Eco 5.0 460 04.12/FT ★★★★★ Best equipment support, Awards 2013 ● 4 70x59x56 4

Audiophile Base Stratabase 360 01.08/FT ★★★★★ It isn’t cheap but justifies the cost ● 1 0.4x43x36 2

BlokStax 300 180 06.10/GT ★★★★★ A solidly constructed rack with a matching sound 3 51x58x40 2

Custom Design Concept AV 350 04.07/GT ★★★★★ Looks and sounds excellent, plus four colour options 3 60x101x40 4

Custom Design Icon Sig. 330 10.06/FT ★★★★★ A great rackfor an upgrade to tame unruly systems 4 42x75x66 11

Custom Design Milan 4 470 11.09/GT ★★★★★ Small and well made, but lacks subtlety ● 4 59x57x40 5

Custom Design Milan LCD3 350 09.08/FT ★★★★★ A stylish addition to Custom Design’s catalogue ● 3 42x77x40 4

Custom DesignTokyo Hi-Fi 4 430 08.11/GT ★★★★★ A lightweight rack with immense potential ● 4 64x58x40 3

Hi Fi Racks Podium 460 08.11/GT ★★★★★ Best equipment support, Awards 2011 ● 3 62x60x40 1

Hi Fi Racks Podium Slimline 350 03.13/FT ★★★★★ A simple rack design with pretty decent results 4 Variablex55x40 1

Icon Audio Aero 299 05.09/GT ★★★★★ An ideal rackfor those who like a lighter listen 4 76x68x50 1

Off the Wall Profile 329 06.10/GT ★★★★★ Retro styling that’s great for the money ● 3 48x90x57 4

Quadraspire Q4evo 380 11.09/GT ★★★★★ A solid, cohesive and supremely affordable rack 4 Variablex59x39.5 8

Sonorous PL2200 280 09.08/FT ★★★★★ Classy looks and features 2 82x95x44 6

Stands Unique Sound Support 330 08.11/GT ★★★★★ An agile sounding rack with a good feel for subtlety 4 57x72x42 1

TargetCL470 299 06.10/GT ★★★★★ For pure performance, this is a winner at this price 4 82x50x55 2

Techlink Ovid 200 04.07/GT ★★★★★ Perfect for a minimalist system in a trendy flat 3 32x95x40 4

£500-£1000
Atacama Elite Eco 12.0 500 03.13/FT ★★★★★ Offers solid performance and flexibility ● 5 Variablex115x32 1

BDI Valera 9724 500 03.13/FT ★★★★★ Complicated to assemble but the results make it worthwhile 3 54x112x52 3

Hi Fi Racks Akorner XL 930 09.12/FT ★★★★★ A corner-friendly alternative to the Podium ● 3 45x110x40 6

Optimum Avion 8925 999 06.10/GT ★★★★★ Heavyweight, but likeable and good with sonics 3 57x127x56 3

Quadraspire Q4 Bamboo 500 03.13/FT ★★★★★ An all round performer. Easy to set up and excellent results ● 4 Variablex59x40 1

Quadraspire QAVM (Oak) 540 04.07/GT ★★★★★ Solid and rigid, delivers a fine performance ● 3 50x109x50 8

Quadraspire QAVX 560 12.07/FT ★★★★★ Supports a great big telly and expansive system ● 2 Variablex163x52 8

Quadraspire Sunoko VentT 800 11.09/GT ★★★★★ A first-rate rack, that highlights subtleties ● 4 Variablex59x47 6

£1000 and more

Alphason Mode 1699 06.10/GT ★★★★★ Massively expensive, but supremely capable as well 3 60x150x57 4

Audiophile Base StarBase 1180 12.06/GT ★★★★★ Exceptional, spectacular results with high end hi-fi ● 3 65x59x52 3

Hi Fi Racks Podium XL 1050 06.10/GT ★★★★★ A great performer: plenty of weight and dynamics ● 3 53x140x40 1

Spectral Closed CL1050 1100 07.07/FT ★★★★★ Fantasticbuild and style, plus numerous options 2 31x101x53 17

Spectral Closed CL1552 1800 07.07/GT ★★★★★ Awesome style and decent abilities - a great rack 6 VariablexVariablex53 16

Headphoneamps
The headphone outputs on most products are usually afterthoughts and
have had little care taken in trying to make them sound good. A dedicated
headphone amp is a must if you want the best headphone sound.

Ourrecommendations
Line level in
Outputs

Product £ Tested Verdict

Up to £1500
BeyerdynamicA1 975 11.10/FT ★★★★★ Best headphone amplifier £500+, Awards 2010. A formidable combo when partnered withT1 headphones 2 1

Chord ElectronicsToucan 800 10.10/FT ★★★★★ A headphone amp with built in DACthat’s worth a punt 2 2

Creek OBH-21SE 280 04.09/GT ★★★★★ Perfectly pleasant but it could do with more bite 2 2

Need more info? Go to whathifi.com www.whathifi.com 151

 152 ACCESSORIES

HEADPHONEAMPScontinued
Cartridges | Phono amps | Headphone amps

Line level in
Outputs
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £1500
Edwards Audio HA1 280 09.12/FT ★★★★★ Packs a punch but not that refined 2 1

FiiO E7 65 03.11/FT ★★★★★ One of the most cost-effective ways to improve headphone sound from a computer 1 2

Graham Slee Voyager 180 02.09/FT ★★★★★ It might not be the most practical headphone amp ever, but it’s packed with potential 1 2

Lehmann BlackCube Linear 750 07.09/FT ★★★★★ Deeply impressive device given the right system 1 1

Lehmann Rhinelander 400 04.09/GT ★★★★★ Best headphone amplifier £300-£500, Awards 2010. Its user-friendly sound makes this a very wise buy 2 2

Meridian Prime 1200 02.14/FT ★★★★★ A top-class headphone amp and a talented preamp to boot 2 4

Musical Fidelity V-CAN II 120 10.12/FT ★★★★★ Does enough right to be worth serious consideration 1 3

Pathos Aurium 850 08.13/FT ★★★★★ This amplifier is a top class choice 4 2

Phonoamps
Dedicated units tend to sound better than the circuits integrated into amplifiers. Higher priced
options usually allow for electrical optimisation for your cartridge, thus producing better results.

Ourrecommendations

Dimensions
(hwd, cm)
Finishes
MM
MC
Product £ Tested Verdict
Up to £2000
Cambridge Audio 651P 120 06.13/GT ★★★★★ A phono stage that belies its budget price ● ● 1 2.5x8x11

CreekAudio OBH-15 240 02.09/GT ★★★★★ Decent phono amplifier for a relaxed listen ● ● 1 6x10x15

Graham Slee Gr- Amp 2 Comm. 160 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Low on frills, high on quality ● 1 7x10x25

Leema Elements 495 03.10/FT ★★★★★ Best phono stage, Awards 2011 ● ● 2 5x11x10

Lehmann BlackCube 325 02.09/GT ★★★★★ Clarity and punchiness make this a great amp ● ● 1 5x11x11

Plinius Koru 2325 04.09/FT ★★★★★ If you have a top-class system, the Koru will sound stunning ● ● 2 9x45x40

Pro-Ject Phono BoxS 120 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Just needs a little more excitement to trouble its rivals ● ● 2 7x10x14

Pro-JectTubeboxSE 350 02.09/GT ★★★★★ You’ll get great detail form this good phono amp ● ● 2 7x10x14

Musical Fidelity V-LPS II 160 06.13/GT ★★★★★ For an affordable phono stage, the V-LPS II produces admirable results ● ● 1 5x11x11

Rega Fono Mini A2D 85 03.12/FT ★★★★★ Best phono stage, Awards 2012 ● 1 6x18x25

Rega Fono MM MK2 200 06.13/GT ★★★★★ Best phono stage, Awards 2013 ● ● 2 7x43x33

Cartridges
Moving magnet (MM) These produce a higher output, giving your phono stage an easier time
Moving coil (MC) Can produce more detail, but is more demanding of your phono stage

Ourrecommendations
weight (g)
Tracking
MM/MC

Product £ Tested Verdict

Up to £500
Clearaudio Aurum Beta Mk II 360 04.11/GT ★★★★★ Accomplished and blessed with pin-sharp accuracy MM 2.2

Goldring 2100 92 05.10/GT ★★★★★ It punches well above its weight - with great results MM 1.7

Goldring 2500 224 03.09/GT ★★★★★ A GroupTest winner with its full bodied and detailed sound MM 1.7

Grado Prestige Silver 115 05.10/GT ★★★★★ Smooth and balanced, but can be awkward to fit MM 1.5

Nagaoka MP110 89 05.10/GT ★★★★★ A great first upgrade cartridge that does much right MM 1.8

Nagaoka MP300 500 04.11/GT ★★★★★ A cartridge that stands out at this price-point MM 1.5

Ortofon 2M Black 460 04.11/GT ★★★★★ Power and dynamics are on tap from this Ortofon MM 1.5

Ortofon 2M Bronze 275 03.09/GT ★★★★★ If you want a neutral and analytical cartridge this fits the bill MM 1.5

Ortofon 2M Red 80 05.10/GT ★★★★★ An easy to fit and fine sounding cartridge MM 1.8

Rega Exact 195 03.09/GT ★★★★★ This Rega is a fun listen that does much right MM 1.75

Roksan Corus Silver 400 01.11/FT ★★★★★ Better then ever - but heftily priced to match MM 1.9

“Sharing many of its sibling’s better characteristics, the Goldring 2100 punches
above its weight and should be on your audition list”
May 2010

152 www.whathifi.com Need more info? Go to whathifi.com

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